Blippi, whose real name is Stevin John, is an American children’s entertainer and educator. He is best known for his childlike spirit and signature blue-and-orange attire, which he wears on his educational kid’s show streamed on YouTube, Amazon Video, Hulu, and Netflix. His educational videos are widely popular among children, and he has an estimated net worth of $16 million. In this article, we will discuss his career, earnings, and personal life.
Early Life and Career
Stevin John was born on May 27, 1988, in Ellensburg, Washington. Growing up on a farm, he was always surrounded by cows, horses, and tractors, stoking his curiosity. He aspired to become a fighter pilot and limo driver as an adult. Partially fulfilling his dream of aviation, John joined the United States Air Force in 2006 on active duty. At the 4th Airlift Squadron in Washington, he served as a loadmaster for the C-17 Globemaster military transport aircraft. Among his duties, John did calculations and planned cargo placements to keep the airplane gravitationally centered during flight. He completed his Air Force service in 2008.
After his military service, John worked as a gross-out comedian and was known as Steezy Grossman. He found his inspiration for Blippi when his two-year-old nephew was watching low-quality YouTube videos. In response, he decided to create a new children’s show that would be both fun and educational for young viewers. The result was “Blippi,” which premiered in January of 2014 on YouTube.
Blippi’s Career and Earnings
Blippi’s character always wears a blue and orange beanie cap, blue shirt, orange suspenders, and a bow tie. The show quickly became popular, and Blippi gained a massive following with billions of views on YouTube. Today, his character provides educational videos for children on various streaming platforms like Amazon Video, Hulu, and Netflix. He also produces content in multiple languages.
In 2020, the franchise was purchased by Moonbug Entertainment, and the show was dubbed in several languages, including Spanish, Italian, German, Hebrew, Arabic, and French. The success of “Blippi” led to the creation of a merchandise line comprised of various toys, books, and clothing. One of the notable merchandise items is the “My Buddy Blippi” plush toy, which reproduces 15 of Blippi’s signature phrases and sounds. Among the franchise’s other properties is a spinoff series entitled “Blippi’s Treehouse,” which debuted in December of 2021 on Amazon Kids+.
Blippi’s earnings have skyrocketed over the years, making him one of the highest-paid YouTube stars on the planet. In 2020, he earned $17 million from his various endeavors. Today he earns money from a highly-successful retail empire that includes toys, accessories, and digital videos. As of April 2023, Blippi has an estimated net worth of $16 million.
Criticism and Controversy
Despite its popularity, “Blippi” has been met with a great deal of criticism by parents and cultural commentators. Many have taken issue with the overly simplistic nature of the show and character, finding little value in the repetitious songs focused on pizza and trucks. Meanwhile, Current Affairs’ Nathan J. Robinson denounced the program as “dead and sterile.”
Especially controversial was “Blippi The Musical,” a live show first performed in 2019. The production was heavily criticized for what was perceived as a bait-and-switch, as John himself did not actually appear in the show as Blippi; he was replaced by an impersonator named Clayton Grimm.