Created with Jon Youshaei He Made $26M on YouTube...But Nearly Lost It All (Linus Tech Tips Interview)
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Dec 8, 2025 
Linus Sebastian, the founder of Linus Media Group and a tech YouTube pioneer, shares the highs and lows of building Linus Tech Tips. He discusses the challenges of declining views, the delicate balance of integrity in sponsorships, and the philosophical rift with Apple. Linus reveals insights on managing errors, diversifying revenue streams, and his decision to turn down a $100M offer to maintain company culture. He emphasizes the importance of long-term thinking in creator business strategies and shares thoughts on AI's future impact.
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YouTube Channels Follow A Predictable Curve
- Linus observed YouTube channels follow a life-cycle curve: rise, apex, then decline unless adapted to new metas.
- He treats recent view declines seriously because staffing makes drops consequential for people.
Invest In Slow‑Burn Evergreen Content
- Make slow-burn, evergreen reference videos that may underperform initially but accrue long-term views and value.
- Rehearse scripts aloud to catch phrasing errors and optimize for listening, not just reading.
Never Sell Your Editorial Opinion
- Separate paid airtime from editorial opinion and refuse to sell your opinion to sponsors.
- Publish clear editorial rules and consistently enforce them to preserve integrity and audience trust.