Patreon, established in 2013 by Sam Yam and Jack Conte, has successfully secured a substantial investment of $413.3 million throughout its journey. Patreon, a platform for creator memberships, has grown into a $4 billion enterprise. With over 8 million patrons and more than 250,000 creators, it has become a significant force in the membership space.
Key Statistics
- Patreon, a vibrant platform, has a thriving community of 6 million active supporters each month, known as patrons.
- Graphtreon data shows that 213,233 creators have gained at least one patron, marking an 18.39% growth since September 2020.
- TechCrunch estimated Patreon’s annual revenue reached $50 million in 2019, a 66.66% increase from the previous year.
- With 7 funding rounds, Patreon raised $412.1 million, and its post-funding valuation stands at $4 billion, up from $1.2 billion in September 2020 during the Series E round.
Users/Subscribers on Patreon
Patreon, a vibrant platform, boasts a thriving community of over 6 million active supporters each month, fondly referred to as patrons. [1,2]
Year | Patrons Number |
2017 | 2 million |
2018 | 3 million |
2019 | 4 million |
2020 | 6 million |
These dedicated patrons generously provide financial support to creators, enabling them to continue their creative endeavors. In return, patrons can access various membership benefits, fostering a mutually rewarding relationship between creators and their passionate supporters.
Number of Creators on Patreon
Patreon is home to a staggering number of creators, with over 200,000 individuals utilizing the platform. According to data from Graphtreon, a remarkable 213,233 creators have garnered at least one patron, marking a notable growth of 18.39% since September 2020.
Since September 2016, the number of Patreon creators has grown by 5.58 times, with 175,020 new participants joining the platform. In just the past two years, Patreon has welcomed 79,556 new creators, accounting for 37.31% of the existing base. [3,4]
Year | Number of Creators on Patreon |
March 2016 | 26,703 |
June 2016 | 31,744 |
September 2016 | 38,203 |
December 2016 | 45,243 |
March 2017 | 55,603 |
June 2017 | 67,571 |
September 2017 | 80,059 |
December 2017 | 91,847 |
March 2018 | 106,821 |
June 2018 | 117,966 |
September 2018 | 124,078 |
December 2018 | 130,170 |
March 2019 | 138,881 |
June 2019 | 136,911 |
September 2019 | 133,667 |
December 2019 | 137,083 |
March 2020 | 171,279 |
June 2020 | 192,965 |
September 2020 | 180,099 |
December 2020 | 185,537 |
March 2021 | 192,450 |
June 2021 | 196,256 |
September 2021 | 213,223 |
Annual Creator Earnings on Patreon
Based on the data provided by the company, it is remarkable to note that Patreon creators have collectively earned over $2 billion. This impressive milestone reflects the growing success and impact of the platform, as it continues to empower creators worldwide. [9,10]
What’s even more impressive is that since 2019, the overall earnings of creators on the platform have doubled, demonstrating the sustained growth and value that Patreon brings to the creative community.
Year | Amount |
2017 | $150 million |
2018 | $300 million |
2019 | $500 million |
2020 | $1 billion |
2021 | $2 billion |
Monthly Creator Earnings on Patreon
In September 2021, Patreon creators collectively earned a significant amount of $23.64 million. This marks a 23.18% increase in monthly payouts compared to September 2020 when the estimated earnings were around $19.19 million.[11]
Date | Monthly Payouts |
March 2016 | $4.95 million |
June 2016 | $5.69 million |
September 2016 | $6.84 million |
December 2016 | $8.21 million |
March 2017 | $8.51 million |
June 2017 | $9.14 million |
September 2017 | $9.6 million |
December 2017 | $9.85 million |
March 2018 | $10.99 million |
June 2018 | $11.63 million |
September 2018 | $11.81 million |
December 2018 | $11.79 million |
March 2019 | $12.05 million |
June 2019 | $12.17 million |
September 2019 | $10.34 million |
December 2019 | $12.6 million |
March 2020 | $14.99 million |
June 2020 | $18.46 million |
September 2020 | $19.19 million |
December 2020 | $20.52 million |
March 2021 | $22.36 million |
June 2021 | $23.23 million |
September 2021 | $23.64 million |
Popular Creators on Patreon
Out of the total number of creators on Patreon, only 0.33% receive sponsorship from more than 2,000 patrons, which amounts to 697 creators. [12]
True Crime Obsessed, a podcast series that critiques true crime documentaries, is the most supported creator on Patreon. With an impressive 43,823 patrons backing the show, it’s clear that the podcast has garnered significant support.
Interestingly, 7 out of the top 10 Patreon creators are podcast producers, when ranked by the number of patrons.
Creator | Number of Patrons (Monthly earnings if available) |
True Crime Obsessed | 43,823 |
Chapo Trap House | 35,914 ($159,005) |
The Tim Dillon Show | 34,158 ($181,415) |
DankPods | 29,210 |
You’re Wrong About | 28,604 |
Dark Cookie | 28,034 ($72,832) |
The Fantasy Footballers | 25,330 |
TMG | 22,794 |
TrueAnon Podcast | 20,824 ($86,165) |
Not Another D&D Podcast | 20,037 |
The Cum Boys | 19,852 ($88,825) |
Flagrant 2 | 19,290 ($92,475) |
Maintenance Phase | 19,168 |
Cold Ones | 17,738 ($75,143) |
Dungeons and Daddies | 17,379 |
Patreon’s Annual Revenue
Patreon generates revenue by receiving a portion of the earnings made by creators on its platform. The exact percentage taken by Patreon, ranging from 5% to 12%, along with a payment processing fee, depends on the specific product plan selected by the customer.
Based on the assumption that Patreon takes an average cut of 8% from creators’ total earnings, the platform’s annual revenue amounts to $80 million. In 2019, TechCrunch estimated that Patreon’s annual revenue reached $50 million, showing a remarkable increase of 66.66% compared to the previous year. [5, 2, 6]
Year | Estimated revenue |
2017 | $12-15 million |
2018 | $30 million |
2019 | $50 million |
2020 | $80 million |
2021 | $160 million |
Patreon Funding
Patreon has managed to raise funds through 7 rounds, amassing a total of $412.1 million. The Series E and F rounds, in particular, played a significant role, contributing $245 million or around 59.45% of Patreon’s total funding. What’s interesting is that these two rounds were announced within a timeframe of only 8 months. [7]
Dates of Funding Round | Amount |
Seed, August 2013 | $2.1 million |
Series A, June 2014 | $15 million |
Series B, January 2016 | $30 million |
Series C, September 2017 | $59.4 million |
Series D, July 2019 | $60 million |
Series E, September 2020 | $90 million |
Series F, April 2021 | $155 million |
Patreon Worth
Patreon’s post-funding valuation currently stands at $4 billion, marking a significant increase from its previous valuation of $1.2 billion in September 2020 during the Series E round. The company’s valuation has more than tripled since then. Over the past 5 years, Patreon’s value has skyrocketed, surging 26.95 times from $148.38 million in 2016. [8]
Funding round, Date | Post-Money Valuation |
Seed, August 2013 | $7.99 million |
Series A, June 2014 | $50.63 million |
Series B, January 2016 | $148.38 million |
Series C, September 2017 | $450 million |
Series D, July 2019 | $660 million |
Series E, September 2020 | $1.2 billion |
Series F, April 2021 | $4 billion |
Conclusion
The Patreon platform has witnessed a significant surge in user engagement and contributions over the past few years.
This growth, reflected in the increasing monetary value raised by creators, is a testament to the changing landscape of digital content creation and consumption.
Patreon’s user statistics reveal a thriving community of creators and patrons, underlining the emergent trend of direct, crowd-sourced funding for creative projects.
References:
- https://blog.patreon.com/patreon-series-e-announcement
- https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/12/patreon-business/
- https://www.patreon.com/about
- https://graphtreon.com/patreon-stats
- https://www.patreon.com/product/pricing
- https://craft.co/patreon
- https://www.cbinsights.com/company/patreon
- https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/patreon
- https://blog.patreon.com/patreon-series-e-announcement
- https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/12/patreon-business/#revenue
- https://graphtreon.com/patreon-stats
- https://graphtreon.com/patreon-creators