The internet is still reeling from Joe Budden casually letting the cat out of the bag about The Joe Budden Podcast earning millions, and the numbers are nothing short of shocking. In a recent feature with The New York Times, Budden confirmed what many had suspected but few could verify: His independent podcast is bringing in a staggering $1 million a month on Patreon alone.
Budden, who was famously paid just $500 a week during his tenure at Complex, is now on the verge of becoming the highest-paid creator in Patreon history, a period he likely never would have seen coming. With nearly 70,000 paying subscribers, each paying between $5 and $50 a month, those numbers are impressive and empowering. Users who subscribe to Budden’s premium tiers on Patreon also unlock exclusive bonus content, continuing to feed fans’ desire for direct communion with an artist.
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Those earnings are projected to reach $12 million by the end of 2025, according to reporter Jessica Testa, who wrote the Times piece. The figures, from Patreon itself, confirm that Budden and his podcast crew are in a completely different financial class. Online, the response has been instantaneous and gut-driven. Followers and detractors alike are reacting to Budden’s incredible accomplishment, and many have taken to social media to share that they can’t believe just how many subscribers he’s gained and the amount of money he’s earning. But for those who have followed his media saga, this windfall feels deserved.
A year after making headlines for walking out on a disappointing Spotify pact, amid creative and financial disputes, Budden leaned even deeper into independence. That decision, which was panned at the time, is now being viewed as visionary. He not only maintained complete control over his content but also developed a faithful paying audience from scratch. Joe Budden’s journey from marginalized media host to podcasting tycoon is a testament to the power of betting on yourself and winning big. As the podcasting landscape matures, the template laid out by Budden may be the new gold standard for creators looking to succeed beyond the traditional system.
