YouTube has hit a major milestone, with the vast depths of its content library now making it not only a behemoth, but the world’s largest media company – and it’s not close.
The Hollywood Reporter, citing data from research firm MoffettNathanson, says that YouTube’s value has surpassed that of The Walt Disney Co’s media business. YouTube hit $62 billion in revenue in 2025, to Disney’s $60.9 billion. But that’s just in terms of annual revenue. YouTube’s business is estimated to be worth around $500 billion – $560 billion, with Netflix second in line at $409 billion.
YouTube is expected to continue growing, the report goes on to say, with the help of its subscription offerings – YouTube Premium, YouTube Music, NFL Sunday Ticket, and YouTube TV – as well as creator-led content and its “heavy investment” in AI tools.
And it’s not like ad revenue isn’t a key part of the business. Of YouTube’s $62 billion in revenue, around $40 billion came from ads, with $11.4 billion in Q4 2025 alone.
Michael Nathanson, an analyst at MoffettNathanson, explains:
Over the next few years, unlike almost any other asset we cover, we strongly believe that YouTube will be a major beneficiary of both the structural tailwinds and headwinds facing technology and media companies.
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