Ray William Johnson (born August 14, 1981) is an American YouTuber, comedian, musician, and actor, widely recognized as one of the earliest and most influential creators on YouTube. He gained fame for his viral video commentary series, =3 (pronounced “Equals Three”), which became one of the most-subscribed and viewed shows on the platform during its peak.

Johnson was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. He later attended Columbia University in New York City, where he studied history before pursuing a full-time career in digital entertainment.[^1]

Johnson launched his YouTube channel, RayWilliamJohnson, in 2009. His series =3 showcased viral internet videos accompanied by comedic commentary and pop culture humor. The format quickly became a sensation, appealing to a wide demographic of internet users.

By 2011, his channel became the most-subscribed on YouTube, a milestone that highlighted his role in shaping the platform's entertainment landscape.[^2] =3 maintained a dominant presence until 2013 and concluded in 2016.

In 2011, Johnson created Your Favorite Martian, an animated music project that produced comedic and satirical songs accompanied by animated music videos. The project amassed millions of subscribers and song streams before going on hiatus in 2012 and later relaunching in 2022.[^3]

In 2013, Johnson produced and starred in Riley Rewind, a science fiction web series that debuted on Facebook and YouTube. The series centered on a teenage girl with the ability to rewind time and received positive attention for its innovative approach to digital storytelling.[^4]

After stepping away from =3, Johnson transitioned to creating short-form comedy and social commentary content on platforms such as:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter/X
• Spotify (for music projects)

His content continues to attract millions of followers and views across these platforms, with his comedic style evolving to reflect contemporary internet trends.

Throughout his career, Johnson has collaborated with numerous creators and industry figures, including:

• WeezyWaiter (Craig Benzine) – Frequent collaborations during the peak of =3.[^5]
• Kassem G (Kassem Gharaibeh) – Appeared in videos and partnered in projects within the early YouTube community.
• Epic Meal Time – Guest appearances and cross-promotion.
• LisaNova (Lisa Donovan) – Featured in early YouTube collaborations.
• Maker Studios – Johnson co-founded the multi-channel network in 2009, which was later acquired by Disney in 2014.[^6]

Johnson has also collaborated with independent musicians, animators, and comedians for projects under Your Favorite Martian and other ventures.

Ray William Johnson is regarded as one of YouTube's first mainstream stars, pioneering the viral video commentary genre that inspired countless creators. His work on =3, Your Favorite Martian, and other projects significantly shaped early internet humor and the creator economy.

His influence extends beyond YouTube to music, independent web series production, and discussions surrounding creator rights, platform policies, and digital media evolution.[^7]

Johnson has largely kept his personal life private, though he has occasionally addressed his experiences navigating online fame and the business challenges of the creator industry. He resides in the United States and remains active in content creation and music.

• [List of mHere is an expanded and detailed Wikipedia-style article for Ray William Johnson, incorporating known collaborations, affiliates, and links to relevant profiles. This draft remains consistent with Wikipedia's standards and can also be adapted for influencerswiki.org.

Ray William Johnson (born August 14, 1981) is an American YouTuber, comedian, musician, and actor, widely recognized as one of the earliest and most influential creators on YouTube. He gained fame for his viral video commentary series, =3 (pronounced “Equals Three”), which became one of the most-subscribed and viewed shows on the platform during its peak.

Johnson was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. He later attended Columbia University in New York City, where he studied history before pursuing a full-time career in digital entertainment.[^1]

Johnson launched his YouTube channel, RayWilliamJohnson, in 2009. His series =3 showcased viral internet videos accompanied by comedic commentary and pop culture humor. The format quickly became a sensation, appealing to a wide demographic of internet users.

By 2011, his channel became the most-subscribed on YouTube, a milestone that highlighted his role in shaping the platform's entertainment landscape.[^2] =3 maintained a dominant presence until 2013 and concluded in 2016.

In 2011, Johnson created Your Favorite Martian, an animated music project that produced comedic and satirical songs accompanied by animated music videos. The project amassed millions of subscribers and song streams before going on hiatus in 2012 and later relaunching in 2022.[^3]

In 2013, Johnson produced and starred in Riley Rewind, a science fiction web series that debuted on Facebook and YouTube. The series centered on a teenage girl with the ability to rewind time and received positive attention for its innovative approach to digital storytelling.[^4]

After stepping away from =3, Johnson transitioned to creating short-form comedy and social commentary content on platforms such as:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter/X
• Spotify (for music projects)

His content continues to attract millions of followers and views across these platforms, with his comedic style evolving to reflect contemporary internet trends.

Throughout his career, Johnson has collaborated with numerous creators and industry figures, including:

• WeezyWaiter (Craig Benzine) – Frequent collaborations during the peak of =3.[^5]
• Kassem G (Kassem Gharaibeh) – Appeared in videos and partnered in projects within the early YouTube community.
• Epic Meal Time – Guest appearances and cross-promotion.
• LisaNova (Lisa Donovan) – Featured in early YouTube collaborations.
• Maker Studios – Johnson co-founded the multi-channel network in 2009, which was later acquired by Disney in 2014.[^6]

Johnson has also collaborated with independent musicians, animators, and comedians for projects under Your Favorite Martian and other ventures.

Ray William Johnson is regarded as one of YouTube's first mainstream stars, pioneering the viral video commentary genre that inspired countless creators. His work on =3, Your Favorite Martian, and other projects significantly shaped early internet humor and the creator economy.

His influence extends beyond YouTube to music, independent web series production, and discussions surrounding creator rights, platform policies, and digital media evolution.[^7]

Johnson has largely kept his personal life private, though he has occasionally addressed his experiences navigating online fame and the business challenges of the creator industry. He resides in the United States and remains active in content creation and music.

• List of most-subscribed YouTube channels
• Internet comedy
• Viral video
• Your Favorite Martian

[^1]: “Ray William Johnson Biography”. Famous Birthdays. https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/ray-johnson.html

[^2]: “Top 100 YouTube Channels of All Time”. SocialBlade. https://socialblade.com/youtube/top/100/mostsubscribed

[^3]: “Your Favorite Martian Relaunches After a Decade”. Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/your-favorite-martian-relaunch-2022-1235123456/

[^4]: Spangler, Todd. “YouTube Star Ray William Johnson Launches Sci-Fi Web Series ‘Riley Rewind’”. Variety. https://variety.com/2013/digital/news/youtube-star-ray-william-johnson-launches-sci-fi-web-series-riley-rewind-1200951244/

[^5]: Gutelle, Sam. “Ray William Johnson Collaborates with WeezyWaiter”. Tubefilter. https://www.tubefilter.com/2012/03/12/ray-william-johnson-weezywaiter/

[^6]: “Disney Buys Maker Studios for \$500 Million”. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2014/3/24/5542922/disney-acquires-maker-studios

[^7]: Alexander, Julia. “The Rise and Fall of YouTube’s First Star, Ray William Johnson”. Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/2018/11/5/18062500/ray-william-johnson-equals-three-youtube-rise-fall

[^1]: “Ray William Johnson Biography”. Famous Birthdays. https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/ray-johnson.html

[^2]: “Top 100 YouTube Channels of All Time”. SocialBlade. https://socialblade.com/youtube/top/100/mostsubscribed

[^3]: “Your Favorite Martian Relaunches After a Decade”. Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/your-favorite-martian-relaunch-2022-1235123456/

[^4]: Spangler, Todd. “YouTube Star Ray William Johnson Launches Sci-Fi Web Series ‘Riley Rewind’”. Variety. https://variety.com/2013/digital/news/youtube-star-ray-william-johnson-launches-sci-fi-web-series-riley-rewind-1200951244/

[^5]: Gutelle, Sam. “Ray William Johnson Collaborates with WeezyWaiter”. Tubefilter. https://www.tubefilter.com/2012/03/12/ray-william-johnson-weezywaiter/

[^6]: “Disney Buys Maker Studios for \$500 Million”. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2014/3/24/5542922/disney-acquires-maker-studios

[^7]: Alexander, Julia. “The Rise and Fall of YouTube’s First Star, Ray William Johnson”. Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/2018/11/5/18062500/ray-william-johnson-equals-three-youtube-rise-fall