Nov 12, 2024,03:31pm EST
Twitch sensation Kai Cenat has once again claimed the title of the most-subscribed streamer on the platform, dethroning Ironmouse in less than half the time he initially planned. The 22-year-old gaming and pop culture influencer achieved the milestone during his ongoing month-long streaming marathon, which has featured an impressive lineup of celebrity guest appearances, including Lil Uzi Vert, Snoop Dogg, and Serena Williams.
Key Facts
Cenat officially broke the all-time Twitch subscriber record on Monday night, surpassing 327,000 paid subscriptions—a number that has since grown to over 340,000, according to the streamer. Twitch confirmed the record-breaking achievement to Forbes.
Subscribers on Twitch pay for exclusive perks like custom emotes and ad-free viewing, separate from simply following a streamer for free. Cenat, who boasts 14.1 million followers, is currently the fifth-most-followed creator on the platform.
Cenat launched his “Mafiathon 2” subathon on November 1, a high-stakes streaming event where he aims to increase his subscriber count over a continuous 30-day period. His first record-breaking subathon, in February 2023, was surpassed by Ironmouse in September when she reached 326,252 subscribers during a nearly 40-day streaming marathon.
Cenat ranks No. 24 on Forbes’ 2024 list of top-earning creators, with an estimated $8.5 million in earnings, making him the highest-ranking Twitch streamer on the list.
What is ‘Mafiathon 2’?
“Mafiathon 2” is a sequel to Cenat’s first subathon, which he named after his fanbase, the “Kai Mafia.” This new event is being marketed with an elaborate campaign, including a building in Los Angeles painted with a link to his Twitch channel and a trailer starring Kim Kardashian. In the trailer, Kardashian plays Cenat’s therapist, asking him about his plans for Mafiathon. “What’s Mafiathon?” Cenat explains, “I stream for 30 days straight, 24 hours every single day. They watch me eat, sleep, shower, on camera, the whole entire time.”
Cenat’s subathon, which will run through November, was briefly interrupted on the first day after he was “swatted”—a dangerous prank where a false emergency report prompts a police response. This incident also occurred during his previous “Mafiathon” stream.
Celebrity Guests in ‘Mafiathon 2’
Cenat leveraged his celebrity connections to fuel his subscriber numbers, bringing in high-profile guests during the stream. On November 4, he took the event to Snoop Dogg’s recording studio, where the rapper gave him a tour and gifted him a massive blunt of marijuana. Lil Uzi Vert also stopped by, performing live on the stream, while rapper GloRilla made an appearance to cook with Cenat, making amends after a previous social media fallout.
Additional celebrity guests included Kodak Black, Denzel Curry, and Quavo, as well as cast members from the Disney Channel show Good Luck Charlie. iCarly star Miranda Cosgrove joined Cenat on the stream’s first day, and tennis champion Serena Williams participated in a video chat session on Monday.
Who is Kai Cenat?
Kai Cenat first gained popularity on YouTube in 2018, posting prank and comedy videos to his channel, which now has over 6 million subscribers. He transitioned to Twitch in 2021, becoming one of the platform’s top streamers with his gaming content and discussions of pop culture. Cenat has collaborated with a slew of celebrities, including Drake, Nicki Minaj, 21 Savage, Kevin Hart, and John Cena.
Cenat has courted controversy as well, notably for a PlayStation 5 giveaway event in Union Square Park that spiraled out of control, attracting a massive crowd and leading to police intervention. He was charged with felony rioting and unlawful gathering, but the charges were dropped after an apology and $57,000 in restitution.
Cenat won Streamer of the Year at the 2022 Streamy Awards and has been nominated for Best Marathon Stream at the upcoming 2024 Streamer Awards.
Crucial Quote
Ironmouse, the streamer Cenat recently dethroned, congratulated him in a post on X (formerly Twitter) saying, “LETS GOOOOO!!!” in response to Cenat’s celebration tweet.
What to Watch For
It remains to be seen how many subscribers Cenat will ultimately accumulate during his month-long stream, and whether more high-profile celebrities will join him before the end of the event.