The company formerly known as Twitter has paid out nearly $20 million to creators, according to a post from X CEO Linda Yaccarino.
The platform, now called X, began paying creators in July for a share of the ad revenue they earned from ads served in the replies to their posts to other verified users. To be eligible, users must subscribe to X Premium (which is the new name for Twitter Blue, not a porn site), have more than 500 followers and have earned more than 5 million tweet impressions for the last three months.
Create. Connect. Collect all on X. We’re enabling the economic success of new segments like creators. And so far we've paid out almost $20 million to our creator community. https://t.co/kk137uPkAo
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) September 29, 2023
The first payments in July, which were cumulative from February onward, totaled around $5 million, according to owner Elon Musk. If X has now paid $20 million, that would mean that substantially more creators have joined the creator program, or that X ads are generating more impressions.
Creators are also now incentivized to get users to reply to their tweets. While this could inspire conversation, we know from platforms like Facebook that extreme emotions drive the most engagement.
Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room
Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400.
Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately
Offer ends March 13.
However, Twitter has been a platform deprioritized by creators since its inception, since it has been very difficult to convert a following into cash — on platforms like YouTube, creators in the partner program have been getting a share of ad revenue for over a decade. Now that creators can make money on the platform, there’s reason to subscribe to X Premium (…still not a porn site) and get posting.
