IShowSpeed, the online pseudonym of Darren Watkins Jr., is a prominent YouTuber, live streamer, and rapper with an estimated net worth of $10 million.

Renowned for his dynamic live streams featuring popular video games such as “Roblox,” “Fortnite,” and “FIFA,” IShowSpeed has also made notable collaborations with fellow content creators like Adin Ross, Kai Cenat, and the Sidemen.

His career, however, has not been without controversy, primarily due to his often crude and provocative behavior during streams.

Early Life

Darren Watkins Jr. was born on January 21, 2005, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His formative years in this Midwestern city laid the groundwork for his future online endeavors.

Rise To Fame Through Live Streaming

Watkins embarked on his YouTube journey in 2016 and expanded his presence to live streaming on Twitch under the alias IShowSpeed in 2017.

Initially streaming games such as “NBA 2K” and “Fortnite,” he attracted only a modest audience. However, by the spring of 2021, his subscriber count had surged to 100,000 as his reputation for controversial and often abrasive conduct on his streams gained traction.

Despite facing multiple bans from Twitch due to his inflammatory behavior, these incidents paradoxically increased his visibility, leading to a dramatic rise in his subscriber base, which reached approximately 10 million by summer 2022.

His gameplay of the mobile app “Talking Ben the Dog” also contributed to its success on the App Store. In late 2022, IShowSpeed was honored with the Streamy Award for Breakout Streamer.

Music Career

In parallel with his streaming success, Watkins ventured into music, releasing his debut single, “Dooty Booty,” on YouTube in the summer of 2021.

The track quickly gained popularity across various social media platforms, particularly TikTok. He followed up with “Shake,” a single whose music video garnered over 160 million views on YouTube.

The year 2022 saw the release of additional singles including “God is Good,” “Ronaldo (Sewey),” and “World Cup,” with the latter achieving viral status.

Watkins further expanded his musical repertoire by collaborating with fellow streamer Kai Cenat on the 2023 single “Dogs.”

Personal Life

In 2021, Watkins publicly introduced his girlfriend, Ermony Renee, to his audience. Like Watkins, Renee hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, and their relationship has been a topic of interest among his followers.