Let’s talk about something insane thats happening on YouTube right now. While everyone’s trying to become the next MrBeast or show their face doing stupid challenges, there’s this guy Jake Tran quietly building a YouTube empire without ever appearing on camera.
He’s pulling in $250,000 to $320,000 MONTHLY across just three channels. And no, that’s not yearly – that’s per month. The craziest part? He struggled for a year making zero dollars before figuring out the formula that changed everything.
Think about these numbers for a second:
1.Jake Tran: 1.8M subscribers (finance and controversy)
2. Evil Food Supply: 303K subscribers (food supply chain drama)
3. How To Get Away With It: True crime content that prints money
And here’s the best part – he’s doing it all without showing his face once. No dancing, no pointing at text, no “Hey guys!” intros.
The Money Breakdown (Real Numbers, No Fluff)
Let’s see how this actually works:
Monthly Revenue Split:
- Sponsorships: $100K-160K (40-50%)
- YouTube Ads: $75K-128K (30-40%)
- Memberships: $75K-32K (remaining)
The Channel Strategy That Actually Works
Let’s break down what made these channels blow up:
Main Channel (Jake Tran):
- Deep dives into finance
- Controversial topics nobody talks about
- Professional documentary style
- High-production value research
Evil Food Supply (The Fast Grower):
- Shocking food industry revelations
- Behind-the-scenes exposés
- Conspiracy-style storytelling
- Data-backed research
True Crime Channel:
- Legal twists on famous cases
- Unique angles nobody covers
- Strategic storytelling
- Heavy research focus
The Scaling Secret (How He Makes 12-15 Videos Monthly)
Here’s the team structure that makes it possible:
The 30+ Person Machine:
- Research team (finds unique angles)
- Script writers (craft compelling stories)
- Voice over artists (professional narration)
- Video editors (create cinema-quality content)
- Thumbnail designers (get those clicks)
Pro Tip: He hires internationally to keep costs manageable while maintaining quality. Smart.
The Content Formula That Prints Money
Here’s what makes his videos go viral:
Topic Selection:
- Find controversial angles
- Expose hidden truths
- Touch emotional triggers
- Create “holy crap” moments
Title Strategy:
Formula: (Shocking Revelation) + (Well-Known Topic) + (Hidden Truth)
Example: “The Dark Truth Behind McDonald’s Ice Cream Machines”
The Viral Video Formula (That Actually Works)
Let’s break down exactly how these videos are structured:
The Hook (First 30 Seconds):
– Drop a shocking fact – Present a mystery – Challenge common belief – Promise a revelation Example: “What if I told you the world’s biggest food companies are…”
The Story Structure:
- Set up the context (1-2 minutes)
- First plot twist (3-4 minutes)
- Deeper revelation (5-7 minutes)
- Mind-blowing conclusion (8-10 minutes)
Building Your Team (Without Going Broke)
Here’s how Jake scaled from solo to 30+ team members:
First Hires (Month 1-3):
- Video editor ($800-1,200/month)
- Researcher ($500-800/month)
- Script writer ($600-1,000/month)
Scaling Team (Month 4-6):
- Multiple editors
- Research team
- Quality control
- Project managers
Pro Tip: He uses Slack and Notion to manage everything. No fancy tools needed.
The Monetization Strategy
Here’s how the money actually flows:
Ad Revenue Strategy:
- Target 10+ minute videos
- Multiple mid-roll placements
- High CPM topics (finance, tech, business)
- Controversial but advertiser-friendly content
Sponsorship Game:
Rate Card: – 30-second mention: $15,000-20,000 – 60-second integration: $25,000-30,000 – Dedicated video: $40,000+
Membership Success:
- Exclusive behind-the-scenes
- Early access
- Extended content
- Member-only research
Avoiding The Fatal Mistakes
Here’s what Jake learned the hard way:
What Kills Channels:
- Copying other creators
- Weak research
- Poor production quality
- Inconsistent uploading
What Makes Them Grow:
- Unique angles
- Deep research
- Cinema-quality production
- Strategic consistency
Your Action Plan (Starting From Zero)
Month 1:
- Choose your niche
- Study successful channels
- Build basic team
- Create content bank
Month 2:
- Launch first videos
- Test different styles
- Optimize thumbnails
- Build systems
Month 3:
- Scale what works
- Expand team
- Increase production
- Start monetizing
The Reality of Building This
The Truth:
- First year might suck (Jake made zero)
- Need $2-3K to start proper
- Takes real work and systems
- Success isn’t guaranteed
But Also:
- Market isn’t saturated
- Entry barrier is low
- Potential is massive
- Systems are proven
What Makes This Work in 2024
Current YouTube Advantages:
- Algorithm favors new creators
- Shorts boost main content
- High CPMs in right niches
- Massive audience growth
Your Next Steps
Choose Your Battleground:
- Pick underserved niche
- Find controversial angles
- Plan content strategy
- Build initial team
Start Production:
- Create first scripts
- Hire core team
- Set up systems
- Begin testing
Here is full video of the interview with Jake Tran on Charlie Changs Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-B8AbvC174