Welcome to Created, the newsletter that’s more addictive than checking your likes on IG. Here’s what we got today:
- Top YouTuber gets scammed out of $120K...is it a trend?
- Inside Netflix's new "creator playbook"
- Best YouTube thumbnails from last week
Popular YouTuber Had $120,000 Stolen By Employee (Closer Look)
As more creators build big companies, the issue isn’t just finding talent to hire.
It’s knowing who to trust.
Just ask Charlie Houpert, co-founder of the popular YouTube channel Charisma on Command.
He recently opened up about a former employee who stole $120,000 from him.
What Happened
Houpert was checking his bank accounts to finance a deal to buy his co-founder out of their channel.
During that time, he found his old crypto wallet which had been managed by his former employee Ivan Hoggo.
When Houpert opened the wallet, he expected to find around $120,000.
Instead, it only had $45.
It Gets Worst
Houpert confronted Hoggo and got his money back. But the rabbit hole went deeper.
Houpert discovered that Hoggo faked tax documents, fabricated stories, and more.
On top of that, Hoggo spent holidays with Houpert’s family, slept on his couch, and had full access to bank accounts.
“I didn’t want to believe someone close to me could do something like this,” Houpert said.
Our Take
This isn’t just a creator problem. It’s a problem across Hollywood.
Remember when Dane Cook’s very own brother stole $12M from him?
Or Billy Joel’s manager who stole $30M.
Or Sting’s accountant who secretly funneled over $6M into a Ponzi scheme.
Unfortunately, the examples are all too common. Especially when it comes to artists and creatives.
But Why?
Unlike traditional CEOs, research shows that artists and creatives thrive on emotion, chaos, and risk.
They typically index much worse on analysis and risk management, which typically makes you better at finance.
Just ask comedian Bobby Lee who hired a “money guy” 15 years ago so he can focus on writing jokes.
“I don’t want to know how much money I have,” he said on the Iced Coffee Hour podcast. “I don’t know what I pay for my mortgage, what I pay for my car, what my utilities cost.”
Sure, that hands-off approach can help you focus on your art in the short-term. But it’s also why many creatives get screwed in the long-term.
The Rise of Creator Spouses?
As Johnny & Iz Harris explained in our interview, trust may be why many more YouTubers are now working with their spouses instead of hiring externally.
Especially if their skills complement on another.
This includes Mat & Steph Patrick (40M subscribers), Michelle Khare & Garrett Kennell (5M), Cassey Ho & Sam Livits (10M), and more.
Netflix Searches For Its Own "Beast Games"
After seeing the success of Beast Games on Amazon — Netflix wants in.
They’re actively reaching out to creators to develop reality competition series, asking them to reimagine shows like Survivor and The Bachelor but for younger audiences.
Quote: “We’re looking for the next generation of great creators, and we’re looking everywhere,” co-CEO Ted Sarandos said.
Why Creators?
YouTube now commands 12% of total TV viewership in the U.S., compared to Netflix’s 8%.
To catch up, Netflix is betting on creator-led competition formats: repeatable, social, and built for binging.
Success Stories
- Inside: After Season 1 premiered on The Sidemen's YT Channel, Netflix acquired the rights for Season 2, and a U.S. spinoff is currently in the works.
- The Influencer: A Korean reality show that brought 77 influencers together. It hit #4 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 (non-English) and took the top spot in South Korea.
Not All Of Them Landed...
Take Pop the Balloon.
The original YouTube show, created by Arlette Amuli and BM Matundu, became a viral sensation for its raw, real look at Black dating culture.
Millions of views. Parodies. And even a proposal.
Then came Netflix.
They bought the rights, stripped the title (originally Pop the Balloon or Find Love), recast it with reality stars, added booze, and…lost what made the original special.
Gone were the heartfelt rejections and unfiltered vulnerability. In came twerking, disrobing, and a cast that fans said erased the soul of the show.
Even with the original creators listed as executive producers, fans saw it for what it was: a viral concept repackaged for shock value. And viewers weren’t having it.
Our Take
Streamers used to treat creators like guests. Now they want them as co-hosts.
Done right, this could be massive: new formats, new stars, and new ways to connect with younger viewers who grew up on YouTube, not cable.
But it all comes down to execution.
If Netflix can let creators actually create — and not just cast them in someone else’s vision — they can have their own Beast Games moment too.
🎯 Weekly Roundup: Thumbnails
Here’s why we love these YT thumbnails. Hopefully, they inspire your next one.
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- Side-by-side camera shots show how different brands capture the same scene (James Popsys)
- Man descending into lava + ‘Real Lava Lamp’ text is impossible to ignore (Zac Alsop)
- Hitchhiking thumb + “NO MONEY” + “ANTARCTICA” sign sets up an impossible challenge (Reuben Schmitz)
- Meticulous ingredient layout + perfect coloring give the thumbnail a high-production feel (SuprOrdinary)
🚀 Weekly Outlier
This video by Matt Jacobs has 4M views, which is 13.4 times higher than the channel’s average. Here’s why it took off:
- Compelling Solo Journey: A young, inexperienced builder spends a year constructing a log cabin alone.
- Pure Visual Storytelling: No narration, no music, just visuals.
- Ongoing Journey: The tease of future phases (roof, windows, floor) keeps viewers invested.
💰 Job Board
- Supercar Blondie is looking for a video editor/edit producer
- Starbound is looking for a YouTube channel manager
- OptiSigns is looking for a YouTube tech reviewer
Sponsored by Spotter Studio
Why Top Creators Use Spotter Studio
We just wrapped the Spotter Studio Idea Summit in LA, where 9 creators got their videos roasted by me, Colin & Samir, and Aprilynne Alter.
For my roasts, I invited a special guest to join me: Danny Duncan (8M subscribers).
I can’t wait to share that video soon but in the meantime…can I be honest?
Each creator we roasted could’ve done a much better job on packaging.
I’m talking about their thumbnails. Titles. Formats.
It’s why I’ve been using Spotter Studio to improve my packaging before uploading.
With Spotter Studio, you can:
- Use Brainstorm to generate title and thumbnail ideas
- Find what’s trending with Outliers
- Mock up thumbnail concepts before you start filming
To improve your video ideas and packaging, try Spotter Studio for free.
🏆 The Created Referral Program
Know someone who’d also love this newsletter? Refer them and get gifts.
Refer 1 friend: you’ll get my Infinite Ideas book. It’s my 8 best tips to find viral ideas for your next upload.
Refer 5 friends: you’ll get my Top 50 Thumbnails book. It includes a detailed breakdown of why they work so you improve your packaging.
Trust me, these books are packed with more tips than most paid courses.
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– Jon
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