You're right that there are lots of variables. I'd imagine the ad revenue of Pewdiepie is far eclipsed by the sales of his merchandise.

You're also right that looking good goes a long way on Instagram. People want to see good looking models. In the world of blogging, that's far less important. All the people in our bloggers group are decidedly average looking individuals, and their appearance doesn't change how much money they're able to make. Like you said, the main differentiation there is the ruthless business spirit. You have to play dirty to make it in the big leagues.

I hope that we're not still following influencers when we're in our 40s and 50s. Kids will, of course, but they're not going to be influenced by 40 and 50 year old people on Snapchat. Save your income while you're young, it's not gonna last.