Piers Morgan's YouTube channel Uncensored has been valued at $145 million, dealing a significant blow to Meghan Markle, who was at the centre of the controversy that led to his departure from ITV.
Piers Morgan's YouTube success
Morgan, who quit his role as presenter on Good Morning Britain in 2021 after a row over comments he made about Meghan Markle's Oprah Winfrey interview, has built his Uncensored brand into a lucrative business. He initially launched the show on TalkTV before moving it to YouTube, where he has since expanded with spin-offs including The Royals Uncensored and World Cup Uncensored.
Appearing on The Karl Stefanovic Show, Morgan discussed his latest investment round and revealed the business's valuation. He stated: "It's got 4.5 million subscribers now, and generates a lot of cash from advertising and sponsorships."
Valuation and growth
Morgan explained that he had taken Uncensored as the brand of the business to reduce reliance on himself. He noted that World Cup Uncensored had performed strongly, saying: "We're doing bigger numbers than Gary Lineker's show, which Netflix paid $14 million for. We don't pay anyone to market our content. We do it all ourselves."
The investors have valued the business at $145 million. Morgan, who has owned the business for just 18 months, added: "We've got a business worth nearly $150 million in 18 months. I think the sky's the limit for this stuff."
Impact on Meghan Markle
The valuation is a stark contrast to Morgan's ITV salary, estimated at around £1.1 million per year, meaning the business is now worth approximately 100 times his annual ITV earnings. The row with Meghan Markle, in which Morgan said he "didn't believe a word" she said in her interview with Oprah Winfrey, ultimately led to his departure from ITV and the creation of his own platform, which has now become a multi-million-dollar enterprise.
