When Tyler Oakley made his first YouTube video just to let his friends participate in his activities at his new school, he probably didn’t know it would swing him into a full-time career. Celebrating the internet, Tyler has proven over the years to be an LGBTQ activist, author and TV host.
Tyler built his brand as a YouTube star just by being himself. Light-hearted, gossipy monologues on anything from small-town talk to personal issues such as his battles with anorexia and domestic violence. Beyond YouTube, he has successfully grown his brand into a true media mogul. He’s written a best-selling memoir, owns an eyewear collection, and hosts a weekly talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Digital Network Tyler Oakley Show.
2014 was a great year for Tyler. he’s had to tour the world, been named Most Popular Male Web Star at the Teen Choice Awards, and met former President of the United States, Barack Obama. He also made a video with former first lady Michelle Obama on education issues. It doesn’t get any better than that!
The audience of millions afforded by the internet has earned Tyler Oakley worldwide influence and landed him in the Forbes ’30 Under 30′ power list for 2017. Tyler is literally on top of the world!
Biography,
He was born Matthew Tyler Oakley on March 22, 1989, in Jackson, Michigan. He was raised by his mother after his parents divorced when he was three years old. Both of his parents remarried adding 11 new siblings to Tyler’s complex family tree. When he was 6 years old, Tyler’s mother and stepfather, Ken, moved to Okemos with their 6 children, including Tyler.
Before he was ten years old, Tyler’s father tried to win custody of him through the legal system. The series of custody hearings, the fear of having to move towns and start over at a new school, coupled with the realization of his sexuality, have weighed heavily on the toll of 12-year-old Tyler Oakley years. In no time, he was battling anorexia. he works too hard at the gym and skips meals to feel better. However, Tyler found respite by getting involved in the choir and musicals. By the ninth grade, he had the situation under control.
Tyler Oakley started making YouTube videos as an 18-year-old freshman at Michigan State University. Before posting his first video, Tyler spent a week researching several notable YouTubers. This first video received a hundred views. A few years later, he became a YouTube sensation with 7.9 million YouTube subscribers, a cumulative total of 648 million views on his videos, and millions of subscribers on other social networks.
Tyler Oakley studied communication at Michigan State University. After graduating, he moved to San Francisco with best friend Korey Kuhl, where he ran social media operations for startups. But he soon realized that doing social media for a business wasn’t as rewarding as doing it for himself. That’s why, in 2012, Tyler quit his job as a 9-5-year-old to become a full-time YouTuber. It would definitely be one of the wisest decisions he ever made.
Family
Tyler’s parents divorced when he was around 3 years old and he went to live with his mother while his older sister Cody was able to go with their father. Both parents remarried within two years of their separation and had more children, making Tyler the third youngest of the “half-steps.” He grew up as the youngest of six children raised by his mother and stepfather and the third youngest of a total of 12.
His stepfather who was a carpenter lost his Woodcraft Shop to fire, so Tyler’s part of the family struggled unlike his siblings living with his father who attended private schools. Tyler didn’t like his father as a child, but their relationship has improved since he reached adulthood. Unlike those with his father, Tyler has a very close relationship with his mother and she has featured in some of his videos.
Tyler Oakley’s net worth
Tyler Oakley’s career as a YouTuber, media mogul, notably helped him amass a net worth of $8 million. He raked in $6 million in 2016 alone, making him the 5th highest paid YouTube star that year.
Boyfriend
Tyler mentioned in his memoir “Binge ” that he was dating a man and would like to get married one day but he did not reveal the identity of the supposed boyfriend. A year before his book was released, Tyler realized a video with Troye Sivan on a boyfriend tag, leading fans to speculate that Sivan was her boyfriend.However, Sivan was also linked to another person at that time and since then details regarding the relationship of Tyler Oakley remained incomplete.In his book, Oakley also revealed that he once had an abusive relationship in college.
Is Tyler gay or straight?
Tyler’s sexuality is not in doubt as he is openly gay. He is also very passionate and outspoken on issues concerning the LGBTQ community. He inspired many young people, including singer Ricky Martin. Using his status as a famous YouTuber, Tyler has raised over $1 million for the Trevor Project, an American non-profit organization that focuses on suicide prevention in the LGBTQ community. He admits that it is one of his most important achievements.
He opened up to his mother about his sexuality when he was 11. However, he did not speak to other family members and friends until he was 14. When he finally did, his family and friends were receptive, with the exception of his born-again father who worked tirelessly to chase the “other boys” out of Tyler’s spirit and fill his spirit with God. .
