Pokimane Explains Why People Give Rich Twitch Streamers Their Money (2025)

The world's top Twitch streamers make millions and millions every year. Whether it's Pokimane or [...]

By Tyler Fischer

The world's top Twitch streamers make millions and millions every year. Whether it's Pokimane or xQc or Valkyrae or Asmongold, if there's one thing the platform's biggest players aren't short on, it's cash. Not only are they making a metric ton of money on the platform itself, but there's a lot of cash flow right now flowing through promotional streams, sponsorships, and ads. Despite this, each and every day, Twitch viewers donate a ton of money to their favorite streamers. Of course, some streamers really need these donations, but those that get the most donations, not as much.

Speaking to this, Pokimane recently revealed why Twitch viewers donate money to rich Twitch streamers who don't need the money. According to the Twitch star, it's actually quite simple: people who donate want the attention. And the richer and more famous someone becomes, the more their attention is worth. Of course, this latter part is up for debate, but the former is a compelling theory many would probably agree with.

"Why do people actually donate to Twitch streamers?" she read while scouring Reddit. "Because people don't go as far to think 'how much does this person need my money?' People donate because they want someone's attention. And if anything, the richer someone becomes the more valuable their attention becomes. "We all know why. Because most people don't, you know, we're not all spending money logically twenty-four-seven. We do things for other reasons."

It's unclear how much Pokimane makes in donations, but if you've tuned into her streams before, you'll know she receives many every stream of various amounts. In other words, she's probably pulling this take from experience.

For more coverage on Pokimane, Twitch, and all things gaming -- including all of the latest news, all of the latest rumors, and all of the latest leaks and speculation -- click here. Meanwhile, as always, feel free to hit the comments section with your thoughts or, alternatively, hit me up on Twitter @Tyler_Fischer_ and let me know over there. Do you agree with Pokimane's take that Twitch viewers only donate to rich streamers for attention or do you think there's something else to it?

Trending Now:

Be the first to know
about your favorite
movies, shows, comics,
anime, video games, and
more! Sign up here and
never miss a scoop.

By signing up, you confirm that you have read and agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy .

Pokimane Explains Why People Give Rich Twitch Streamers Their Money (2025)

FAQs

Pokimane Explains Why People Give Rich Twitch Streamers Their Money? ›

It could be simply out of appreciation for the content they create, or maybe they just want to give something back to someone who has given them hours of entertainment. Whatever the reason, donating on Twitch is an effective way of showing that you value a streamer and appreciate their work.

Why do people give so much money on Twitch? ›

It could be simply out of appreciation for the content they create, or maybe they just want to give something back to someone who has given them hours of entertainment. Whatever the reason, donating on Twitch is an effective way of showing that you value a streamer and appreciate their work.

Why do people send gifts to streamers? ›

Gift-giving is a common feature of most live streaming platforms with specific interpersonal purposes-viewers send gifts to express their encouragement and "like" for the streamer, with the aim of getting special feedback from the streamer (such as streamers' warm and immediate response), as well as superior social ...

Why donate to Twitch streamers? ›

Donating money to Twitch streamers is no different than donating to a church or a youth center. The subscriptions, the donations, and the chat comments are ways in which individuals give back to the streamer for their hard work and dedication, and for making their lives better.

Do Twitch streamers get all the money from donations? ›

While streamers get 100% of bits donated, Twitch charges the donor to buy them in the first place. And while PayPal charges streamers for processing fees, the donor doesn't pay a mark-up. Either way, the streamer doesn't get the full donation.

Why do people gift subs to rich streamers? ›

Gifted subs are a way for you to support your favorite streamers on Twitch. By gifting a sub to another user, you are essentially paying for that user to have a subscription to the streamer's channel.

What is the Twitch money controversy? ›

Key Facts. Under Twitch's new rules for its original 70/30 revenue share tier, streamers will get to keep 70% of their revenue regardless of how much they make, ending a controversial rule that reduced their share to 50% once they made $100,000.

How much do streamers make per gift? ›

Creators receive 50% of the total of the coins that are used to purchase gifts. So for example if you received 100 coins, you as a creator would receive 50 of those coins.

Who gives money to streamers? ›

Twitch supports donations via Bits and subscriptions, and some trusted third-party options are PayPal, Streamlabs, and StreamElements. Before a viewer makes a donation to a Twitch streamer, they should always verify the streamer's information.

What do streamers mean when they say gifted? ›

Gifted subscriptions are exactly what they sound like. A way for viewers to gift a one-month subscription to your channel to another user. The gifted subscription supports your channel just like a typical sub and gift recipients have the option to become a regular subscriber after their first month expires.

Why do streamers get paid so much? ›

Twitch Bits: One of the most common ways streamers make money on Twitch is through bits, which are Twitch's currency system. Viewers can purchase bits and tip streamers during their streams. One bit is equal to one cent for streamers, so if a viewer tips 100 bits, it's roughly equivalent to donating one dollar.

Do Twitch donations get taxed? ›

This is why Twitch donations are likely going to be taxable income. When you lodge your tax return, you report your Twitch income as business income. You'll report your expenses here, too. You'll need to work out the portion of your set up and games which are for personal use versus business use.

Is gifting subs on Twitch a tax write-off? ›

For Viewers

Any other means of fundraising, including giving money to a streamer through a donation, subscription, bits, etc. that they will later donate to a charity, is not considered a charitable donation and is not tax deductible.

What is the average salary for a streamer? ›

How much does a Streamer make? As of Sep 12, 2024, the average annual pay for a Streamer in the United States is $56,375 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $27.10 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,084/week or $4,697/month.

How much do small streamers make? ›

How much money can you make on Twitch?
# of viewersEstimated income
5–10 average viewers per stream$50–$200 per month
20 average viewers per stream$200–$400 per month
50 average viewers per stream$500–$750 per month
100 average viewers per stream$1,000–$1,500 per month
3 more rows
Jun 14, 2024

How many followers do you need on Twitch to make money? ›

Reach 50 Followers. Stream for 8 Hours. Stream on 7 Different Days. Reach an Average of 3 Viewers.

Why would anyone pay for Twitch? ›

A Subscription allows a viewer to pay per month to support your channel if you are a Partner or Affiliate, either on a recurring or one-time basis. Subscribers (subs) get access to your emotes and other benefits you can define.

How much money does 1,000 viewers on Twitch make? ›

How much money can you make on Twitch?
# of viewersEstimated income
20 average viewers per stream$200–$400 per month
50 average viewers per stream$500–$750 per month
100 average viewers per stream$1,000–$1,500 per month
1,000 average viewers per stream$5,000 per month
3 more rows
Jun 14, 2024

Can you get rich off Twitch? ›

Twitch has also become a viable way for gamers (and other creators) to make money. Top Twitch streamers make millions, but smaller creators can get in on the action, too. In this article, we'll explore how to monetize Twitch.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Sen. Emmett Berge

Last Updated:

Views: 6079

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Sen. Emmett Berge

Birthday: 1993-06-17

Address: 787 Elvis Divide, Port Brice, OH 24507-6802

Phone: +9779049645255

Job: Senior Healthcare Specialist

Hobby: Cycling, Model building, Kitesurfing, Origami, Lapidary, Dance, Basketball

Introduction: My name is Sen. Emmett Berge, I am a funny, vast, charming, courageous, enthusiastic, jolly, famous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.