Kyle Forgeard has built an impressive $25 million net worth as of 2024. This YouTube star turned his love for pranks into a million-dollar empire after starting in Mississauga.
His YouTube experience kicked off in July 2010 with the launch of "NelkFilmz". NELK got its name from its original crew – Nick, Elliot, Lucas, and Kyle. The channel now attracts over 7 million subscribers who can't get enough of their pranks and comedy videos.
The sort of thing I love about Kyle's story is how he adapted after YouTube cut off their monetization. Their merchandise drops became a soaring win, with one release pulling in $30 million in just 30 minutes. Their Full Send merchandise line generates about $70 million yearly. The Happy Dad
Hard Seltzer brand adds another dimension to their success with a valuation near $250 million.
Let's get into Kyle's personal worth compared to NELK's total value, break down his revenue streams, and uncover the business moves that made him one of social media's most successful entrepreneurs.
Kyle Forgeard’s Net Worth in 2024: The Real Numbers
Kyle Forgeard's finances paint a fascinating picture of diverse business interests that have made him incredibly wealthy. This co-founder of the NELK Boys has built quite an impressive financial portfolio through multiple revenue streams.
How much is Kyle Forgeard worth today?
Financial analysts agree that Kyle Forgeard's net worth sits at about $25 million in 2024. This number shows just how far he's come since he started posting prank videos on YouTube a decade ago.
His wealth growth in recent years stands out remarkably. Money experts say Kyle's net worth has doubled since 2021. We focused on business ventures rather than traditional content to make money. His ownership stakes in Full Send merchandise brand and Happy Dad Hard Seltzer bring in most of his wealth, not YouTube revenue.
YouTube helped build his fame, but it adds nowhere near as much to his current net worth. Kyle and the NELK team made a smart move after facing demonetization issues. They created other ways to make money that turned out to be much more profitable than ad revenue could ever be.
NELK net worth vs Kyle's personal net worth
The difference between NELK's value and Kyle's personal worth needs some explanation. NELK as a company is worth more than $100 million when you count all its brands and ventures. Happy Dad Hard Seltzer brand alone is worth about $250 million. The Full Send merchandise line brings in around $70 million each year.
Kyle owns much but an undisclosed percentage of these businesses as a co-founder and decision-maker. His $25 million personal net worth shows his share of these companies plus his investments and assets. This explains why his individual worth doesn't match the total value of brands he helped create.
Other NELK members have stakes in these businesses too. Kyle holds the biggest ownership position among content creators. This setup lets him build personal wealth while growing NELK's business empire.
Why estimates vary across sources
Money magazines and celebrity worth trackers often show different numbers about Kyle's wealth. The head of private companies doesn't need to share detailed financial information. This leads to educated guesses instead of confirmed facts.
NELK's business ventures grow so fast that outside observers struggle to keep up with accurate valuations. Full Send brand's value keeps going up with every successful merchandise release.
The line between personal and business assets creates confusion in estimating Kyle's individual worth. Some sources might count all NELK brands as Kyle's personal worth instead of recognizing shared ownership.
Kyle's investments in real estate, cryptocurrency, and other ventures stay private. This adds more uncertainty to net worth calculations. This privacy, which is normal for private individuals, leads to different estimates across sources.
Whatever the exact number might be, Kyle's journey from YouTube prankster to multi-millionaire entrepreneur stands as one of social media's most soaring wins.
The Rise of NELK: From Pranks to Profits
NELK's trip from YouTube pranks to a multi-million dollar enterprise shows how Kyle Forgeard built his substantial wealth. A small YouTube channel in 2010 grew into a business powerhouse through smart moves and brand development.
The viral Coke prank that changed everything
NELK's breakthrough came in January 2015 with their "Coke Prank on Cops" video. Kyle and his friends put Coca-Cola in their car trunk and told police officers they had "coke." The officers suspected illegal substances. Their relieved reaction after finding actual Coca-Cola created an instant viral moment.
"The cops were so cool about it, we didn't think they were going to be like that," Kyle Forgeard said after the prank. "We thought they were going to get mad".
The video blew up overnight with 49 million views. It remains their most viewed content, getting nearly three times more views than their second most popular video. The Los Angeles Police Department released a warning statement about the prank, which made it even more popular. Major Canadian news outlets picked up the video and pushed NELK into the spotlight.
How NELK built a loyal fanbase
After their breakthrough, NELK developed a dedicated audience through authentic content and consistent style. Their videos featured high energy, sharp cuts, and genuine reactions. Kyle highlighted this approach: "A lot of YouTubers are fake, or they're so goody-goody online.
Then you go to an L.A. party and they're doing drugs in the bathroom. We were always real, we didn't want to be fake for the camera".
The group created the "Full Send" concept, which became both a catchphrase and lifestyle brand. Full Send meant giving maximum effort with no hesitation—a message that appealed deeply to their young audience.
The channel hit one million subscribers by January 2018 and earned YouTube's Gold Creator Award. NELK now has over 8.4 million subscribers with nearly 1.9 billion total views. Their content features:
- Bold, boundary-pushing pranks
- Long-form videos (averaging 41 minutes)
- Lifestyle and entertainment themes
- High-profile guest appearances
YouTube demonetization and pivot to merchandise
NELK faced a major setback in 2020. YouTube completely demonetized their channel after they promoted an in-person college party during COVID-19 restrictions. YouTube cited a violation of their Creator Responsibility Policy.
Kyle embraced the controversy instead of apologizing or changing their content. "The backlash is the brand," he stated. This challenge led to a business pivot that multiplied their income.
NELK launched their Full Send merchandise using a Supreme-inspired model of limited-edition drops—releasing just 2,000 items per collection without restocks. This lack of supply created huge demand, with site traffic hitting 350,000 people at once during releases.
The results amazed everyone. A single merchandise drop in 2018 made $500,000 in just 24 hours. NELK sold about $70 million in merchandise yearly by 2021. Kyle explained their financial shift: "YouTube money is pennies compared to building businesses like a seltzer. We're not going to sacrifice our content or change to make $500,000 a month from YouTube".
Their merchandise empire grew to include Happy Dad Hard Seltzer, launched in 2021. It quickly became a top-five hard seltzer brand at Total Wine, with a current value of about $250 million.
Full Send and Happy Dad: Kyle’s Business Empire
Kyle Forgeard's $25 million net worth comes from two powerhouse brands – Full Send and Happy Dad. These companies show how he turned his internet popularity into real business success.
The birth of Full Send as a lifestyle brand
NELK's catchphrase "Full Send" means going all-in on everything you do. Kyle saw its potential and turned this simple motto into a thriving lifestyle brand in 2017. The brand grew from simple merchandise into something much bigger. Today, Full Send isn't your typical influencer merch – it stands on its own as a fashion and lifestyle brand that people love.
Happy Dad Seltzer's explosive growth
Kyle and his NELK team jumped into the competitive alcohol market by launching Happy Dad Hard Seltzer in 2021. They picked this name because their fans are mostly young guys who want to be "happy dads" one day.
The brand took off quickly. It became the fifth best-selling hard seltzer at Total Wine and spread to 37 states in just one year. This success proves Kyle knows business just as well as content creation.
Revenue models and limited drops strategy
Kyle's business playbook is smart and simple. He creates excitement by limiting how much Full Send merchandise is available:
- Products come in small batches
- New releases sell out in minutes
- Nothing gets restocked
- Hoodies cost $70 or more
This strategy works like Supreme's model but targets Kyle's unique audience. One drop brought in $30 million in half an hour – this is a big deal as it means that his approach works. The Full Send Club adds another money stream through subscriptions for special content.
Kyle's role in brand development
As NELK Entertainment's CEO, Kyle runs the show while you retain control of the brands. Unlike other influencers who just put their name on things, he gets his hands dirty with product creation, marketing plans, and growing the business. His direct involvement keeps all his brands consistent.
Kyle shows how to turn internet fame into real business success. Instead of chasing quick sponsorship money, he built lasting wealth by owning his companies. This strategy worked better than YouTube money ever could.
Kyle Forgeard’s Investment Portfolio
Kyle Forgeard has built a $25 million net worth through smart investments beyond his core business. This social-first entrepreneur expanded his money far beyond what NELK brings in.
Real estate in Newport Beach
Kyle bought his first luxury property in Newport Beach, California after his business took off. He lives there with other NELK team members. The upscale neighborhood sits right by the ocean and serves as both his home and a backdrop for NELK videos.
The Newport Beach house does double duty as NELK's headquarters and a smart business investment. Property values keep climbing in this wealthy beach community, which makes his real estate a rock-solid part of his investment strategy.
NFTs and the Full Send Metacard
Kyle jumped into digital assets by launching the Full Send Metacard NFT collection in 2021. This smart move tapped into both the NFT craze and NELK's loyal fans. The Metacard project gave owners:
- Special invites to NELK events and parties
- First access to new merchandise
- Blockchain-verified digital ownership
- Member-only perks
Kyle showed his innovation by combining digital collectibles with ground application. This project fits NELK's trademark style of exclusive, limited-release products.
Startups and crypto ventures
Along with his NFT projects, Kyle put money into new startups and cryptocurrency. He keeps most details private but has talked about investing in:
- Tech companies that appeal to NELK's audience
- Crypto beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum
- Drink startups that complement Happy Dad
His investment choices show a clear pattern. Unlike other influencers, Kyle picks investments that build wealth over time instead of quick promotional gains.
Kyle approaches investing just like his business – he looks for opportunities that make money now and grow over time. His mix of traditional investments like real estate and new ones like NFTs and crypto shows how adaptable he is with money.
How Kyle Makes Money Today
Kyle Forgeard has built a financial empire that goes well beyond making YouTube videos. His income keeps flowing whether YouTube pays him or not.
YouTube and podcast monetization
YouTube demonetized NELK's channel in 2020 when they broke COVID-19 protocols. The channel still thrives with over 8 million subscribers. The irony? Their controversial content barely made money through ads anyway – just $0.23 for 15 million views in November 2020.
Kyle launched the Full Send Podcast in September 2021 and has hosted big names like Elon Musk and Donald Trump. The show does more than entertain – it's a smart marketing tool that promotes their other businesses. They've used the podcast to introduce Happy Dad Seltzer to influential guests, which helped build valuable business connections.
Sponsorships and brand deals
Kyle could easily make millions from brand partnerships with his massive following. But he's picky about sponsorships and prefers to promote NELK's own products instead. This smart move builds his brand's value rather than chasing quick sponsorship money.
Instagram and social media income
Kyle's Instagram game is strong with 2.5 million followers. His posts get serious attention – an 8.75% engagement rate and around 204,000 likes per post. This popularity translates to $38,120-$52,240 monthly from Instagram, while single sponsored posts can bring in $1,000-$13,000.
Merchandise drops and exclusive content
Most of Kyle's wealth comes from merchandise. Full Send pulls in about $70 million yearly using a Supreme-inspired exclusive drop model. Each release has only 2,000 items that sell out in minutes.
The website gets swamped with 300,000 people at once during these drops. This lack of supply makes each piece rare and valuable, letting them charge premium prices. Kyle added subscription services where fans get early alerts about upcoming drops, creating yet another income stream in his growing business empire.
Conclusion
Kyle Forgeard's experience from YouTube prankster to $25 million entrepreneur ranks among social media's most impressive success stories. YouTube demonetization became his biggest breakthrough instead of a setback. He built an empire that reaches beyond content creation rather than giving up due to platform restrictions.
Kyle's wealth grew because he knew how to turn internet fame into real business assets. His Full Send merchandise pulls in about $70 million yearly, and Happy Dad Hard Seltzer has become a $250 million brand. These ventures, along with smart investments in real estate and digital assets, secured his financial success whatever YouTube's policies dictate.
Unlike many influencers, Kyle saw the bigger business picture. He built lasting brands with real consumer appeal instead of chasing quick sponsorship money. His Newport Beach property, NFT ventures, and carefully chosen startup investments show his smart approach to building wealth across different areas.
Of course, the NELK formula works because it stays real. They ended up creating more valuable business models because they wouldn't water down their content for advertisers. Their limited-drop strategy creates a buzz and exclusive feel that big retailers just can't copy.
Kyle's $25 million net worth shows more than just online popularity – it proves his business genius. He built a business system that runs independently while other content creators depend heavily on platforms. His story shows others how to turn social media influence into lasting financial success in today's unpredictable digital world.
FAQs
Q1. What is Kyle Forgeard's current net worth?
Kyle Forgeard's net worth is estimated to be around $25 million as of 2024, primarily derived from his business ventures and investments rather than traditional content monetization.
Q2. How did NELK become so successful financially?
NELK's financial success stems from their strategic pivot to merchandise sales after YouTube demonetization. Their Full Send brand generates approximately $70 million annually, while their Happy Dad Hard Seltzer is valued at around $250 million.
Q3. What is the "Full Send" concept and how does it contribute to NELK's success?
"Full Send" is NELK's signature catchphrase turned lifestyle brand. It represents giving maximum effort with no hesitation, resonating deeply with their young audience. The brand's limited-edition merchandise drops create massive demand and generate significant revenue.
Q4. How does Kyle Forgeard make money outside of YouTube?
Kyle generates income through various streams, including merchandise sales, the Happy Dad Hard Seltzer brand, real estate investments, NFT projects, and strategic investments in startups and cryptocurrencies.
Q5. What business strategies have contributed to Kyle Forgeard's wealth?
Kyle's wealth stems from his ability to leverage internet fame into sustainable businesses. He employs strategies like artificial scarcity in merchandise drops, diversification of income streams, and maintaining ownership stakes in his ventures rather than pursuing quick endorsement deals.
