The kid from Grantsburg, Wisconsin who got on his bike, filmed himself doing dumb stuff, and somehow accumulated over one billion views while the rest of us were trying to figure out our day.
Last updated: March 2026
Gustav Emil Johnson lands on June 20, 1995 in Grantsburg, Wisconsin — a town so small that "going viral" still sounds like catching a cold. His grandfather runs a computer repair and photography shop. Young Gus notices: there are cameras here.
Seventh grade. Gus pedals around Grantsburg on his bike filming "stupid sketches that kids would think are funny" with his brother Sven. Nobody told him to stop. Crucially, nobody told him to start either. He just did it.
September 12, 2010. Gus posts "Ian's Song" — a tribute to a friend lost to a swimming accident. Not comedy. Not memes. Just a kid with something real to say. The YouTube channel exists now. That's how it starts.
"The perfect formula is to make light of something that is relatable and frustrates other people too." Gus describes his style as a video version of Gary Larson's Far Side — one panel, one absurd truth, complete. His inspirations? SNL's Kyle Mooney and Beck Bennett. His influences show in the best possible way: Midwestern, dry, deeply human.
He studies entertainment design with a focus on digital cinema at the University of Wisconsin–Stout. By his senior year his "full-time job" is already YouTube. He graduates May 2018. His channel has 400,000 subscribers. The degree is nice, but Gus is already hired.
Born June 20, 1995, Gustav Emil Johnson is 30 years old. A Gemini, for those keeping celestial score. He's been making videos since he was 15 — that's more than half his life on camera.
Grantsburg, Wisconsin — population: very small. He grew up there with three siblings: Sven, Thor, and Hanne. Yes, those are their actual names. He now lives in Los Angeles, where the weather is better but the comedy is the same.
Gustav Emil Johnson. His parents named him Gustav, his brothers Thor and Sven, in a move that is either deeply Scandinavian or deeply chaotic. He's of Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish descent. "Gus" is just easier on everyone.
His grandfather owned a computer repair and photography shop — so young Gus always had a camera nearby. He started riding his bicycle around Grantsburg in seventh grade, filming silly sketches. His first YouTube upload was in 2010. His first viral video was "How To Get Free Food From Subway."
Estimated at approximately $1 million as of 2024. Revenue comes from YouTube ad revenue, sponsorships, merchandise, live shows, and the Viacom/Comedy Central deal he signed in 2019. Monthly YouTube earnings are estimated at $10K–$28K.
As of early 2026, Gus has approximately 2.94 million YouTube subscribers across 1,077+ videos, with over 1.1 billion total views. He crossed the 1 million mark live on the H3 Podcast on April 10, 2019 — which is honestly a great way to do it.
"I think it's important for people to realize that where you grew up is not what defines you as a person. A lot of young people think that their entire world is this encapsulated town — that can sometimes be really detrimental."— Gus Johnson, to the Burnett County Sentinel
The secret weapon of Gus Johnson's channel is his rotating cast of original characters. Not impressions of celebrities — fully invented absurd archetypes that somehow feel more real than real people. Hover to learn more.
First video "Ian's Song" goes up September 12. Gus is 15. The channel is born, quietly, in Wisconsin.
Before he ran the internet, Gus ran Badger Boys State. Elected governor in 2013. The world's weirdest early résumé entry.
Releases two albums with friend Joe Dumas: Lightning Rods and Leaky Roofs (2015) and Champagne Seats (2016). Multi-talented from the jump.
Videos start going viral on Reddit's r/youtubehaiku and Facebook. The algorithm notices. The internet arrives.
Launches OK I'll Talk podcast with Eddy Burback. Kickstarts long-form comedy series Par 9 — a golf course comedy show. Gus expands.
Graduates from UW–Stout with a digital cinema degree while already running a professional YouTube career. Moves to Los Angeles with Eddy. Signs with a talent agency.
Hits 1M subscribers during a live appearance on the H3 Podcast, April 10. Nominated for Best YouTube Comedian at the 11th Shorty Awards. Signs deal with Viacom/Comedy Central.
Releases the beloved Imbiamba Jombes trilogy — baby Indiana Jones becomes an internet icon. Four million combined views and climbing.
A public controversy involving his ex-girlfriend Sabrina leads to a period of reflection and apology. Gus steps back, addresses the situation, and later returns to creating.
~2.94M subscribers. 1.1B+ views. 1,077+ videos. The Wisconsin kid is still in the game, still making people laugh at things they recognize from their own life.
You started making videos on a bike in a town most people will never visit. You didn't have a plan — you said so yourself. You studied digital cinema while already living your thesis. You moved to LA, made a deal with Comedy Central, and hit a million subscribers in front of a live audience on somebody else's podcast. That's either terrifyingly chaotic or deeply in character.
But here's the thing: every one of your characters — Imbiamba, the Working Man, God's Country Guy — they all have one thing in common. They're completely themselves, no matter how ridiculous the situation. That's not an accident. That's you.
The internet didn't make Gus Johnson. Grantsburg did. And then the internet found out.
Gus's longtime podcast co-host and comedic partner. The Midwest to LA pipeline continues.
Fellow YouTube comedian with sharp commentary chops. Part of the same creative circle as Gus.
Sketch comedian and collaborator in the same YouTube comedy ecosystem. Always Greg.