YouTube is 19 years old. Here's a timeline of how it was founded and grew to become king of video, with some controversies along the way.

Paige Leskin,Ana AltchekMay 29, 2024, 15:31 IST

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan took over the top job in 2023.Kevin Mazur/Getty

YouTube was founded by three PayPal employees in 2005.
Since launching, it's become the most popular free video-sharing platform in the world.

In its 19-year history, YouTube has become the undisputed king of online video.

It has well over 2 billion monthly users who watch hundreds of hundreds of millions of hours of content every single day. But many people don't know how YouTube got its start.

The company rose like a rocket ship after its founding in 2005, and was bought by Google just 18 months later. Under Google, YouTube went from being a repository of amateur video to a powerhouse of original content, not to mention a launching pad for its own new brand of superstars, like MrBeast and the Smosh Brothers.

Here is how YouTube got its explosive start, and maintained that momentum to become the biggest force in online video.

In late 2004, three early employees of PayPal — Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim — start working on an idea for a website for users to upload video-dating profiles.

YouTube was founded by three early PayPal employees.Reuters/Lucas Jackson; YouTube

In late 2004, three early employees of PayPal — Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim — start working on an idea for a website for users to upload video-dating profiles.

Based on the feedback, the cofounders transformed YouTube into a free video-hosting platform in April 2005, where each clip had a unique link.

Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake performed during the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2004.Getty Images Entertainment/Frank Micelotta

In April 2005, the first video ever was uploaded. to the website while YouTube was still in private beta.

The "Met at the zoo" video is only 18 seconds long.YouTube

Investment firm Sequoia Capital invested $3.5 million in YouTube's Series A round in September 2005.

Sequoia Capital partner Roelof Botha.Steve Jennings/Getty Images for TechCrunch

After clips of the Saturday Night Live sketch "Lazy Sunday" attracted millions of views on YouTube in February 2006, NBC demanded a particularly viral clip be removed from the site.

Chris Parnell, left and Andy Samberg in "Lazy Sunday" on "Saturday Night Live."YouTube

After clips of the Saturday Night Live sketch "Lazy Sunday" attracted millions of views on YouTube in February 2006, NBC demanded a particularly viral clip be removed from the site.

After a back-and-forth battle between Yahoo and Google, Google acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion in October 2006.

Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin met at Stanford.James Leynse/Corbis via Getty Images

The same month Apple launched its first iPhone model in June 2007, YouTube launched its mobile site.

Chad Hurley, YouTube's former CEO.David Buchan/Getty Images

In August 2007, Google rolled out its first ads on YouTube videos.

YouTube is using pop-up ads to tell users to stop using ad-blockers while watching videos.YoGinta/Getty Images

In 2009, YouTube teamed up with media company Vivendi to launch a new music video service called Vevo, responding to music companies' complaints about piracy and unfair licensing terms.

Vevo was launched in response to complaints about piracy and unfair licensing terms. Vevo

In 2009, YouTube teamed up with media company Vivendi to launch a new music video service called Vevo, responding to music companies' complaints about piracy and unfair licensing terms.

In April 2010, Felix Kjellberg joined YouTube to create content under the channel name PewDiePie, where he first provided video-game commentary before expanding into vlogging and internet memes.

PewDiePie first joined YouTube in 2010.YouTube

In April 2010, Felix Kjellberg joined YouTube to create content under the channel name PewDiePie, where he first provided video-game commentary before expanding into vlogging and internet memes.

In October 2010, Hurley, a YouTube cofounder, stepped down as CEO.

YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley, left, and former YouTube CEO Salar Kamangar.Reuters/Pascal Lauener; Reuters/Brendan McDermid

In April 2011, YouTube officially entered the broadcast business with the launch of YouTube Live.

YouTube Live allowed the site to stream all types of content.YouTube

In January 2013, YouTube opened "YouTube Spaces" in Los Angeles, Tokyo, London, New York, and Sao Paulo.

YouTube Spaces in Los Angeles.Madeline Stone / Business Insider

In February 2014, Susan Wojcicki — Google's 16th employee who helped convince the company to buy YouTube — was named the new CEO of the video-sharing platform.

Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki first took the top job in 2014.Getty Images

In February 2014, Susan Wojcicki — Google's 16th employee who helped convince the company to buy YouTube — was named the new CEO of the video-sharing platform.

In February 2015, Google launched a "family-friendly" version of the video platform called YouTube Kids.

Google launched a "family-friendly" version of YouTube in 2015.John Keeble/Getty

In March 2017, major companies across the US and in international markets — like AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, and the British government — pulled their ads from YouTube en masse after the Times of London reported that ads were appearing alongside extremist and offensive content.

Hank Green, one-half of the Vlog Brothers, talks about the Adpocalypse in an April 2017 video.YouTube

In March 2017, major companies across the US and in international markets — like AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, and the British government — pulled their ads from YouTube en masse after the Times of London reported that ads were appearing alongside extremist and offensive content.

In April 2017, YouTube TV, an on-demand streaming service, officially launched in select markets.

YouTube TV launched in select markets in April 2017.SOPA Images/Getty Images

In November 2017, users found family-friendly videos containing disturbing and abusive content across YouTube and YouTube Kids platforms.

Logan Paul was suspended from YouTube's revenue program because of a controversial video.YouTube

In February 2020, Google broke out the video platform's ad revenue for the first time since YouTube was acquired.

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai. Google

YouTuber MrBeast reached over 100 million subscribers in 2022.

MrBeast has about 240 million subscribers. Chris Unger

Neal Mohan took over as YouTube's CEO in 2023. The company was once Mohan's client in the mid-2000s when he led strategy as adtech company DoubleClick.

Neal Mohan became YouTube's CEO in 2023.Google

In April 2024, two YouTube employees detailed the company's strategy to lean on video and audio at a virtual seminar for podcasters.

Former Bachelor, Nick Viall, hosts a weekly video podcast on YouTube called "The Viall Files."Craig Sjodin/Getty Images

In 2024, YouTube says it plans to build a Vision Pro app down the line.

The Apple Vision Pro headset was released in February 2024. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Competition with TikTok ramped up in 2024 as it puts an emphasis on longer videos.

TikTok incentivizes search and length of videos, competing with Google. Shriya Bhattacharya

YouTube becomes the top platform for AI influencers in 2024 as some creators and companies start to grow their audience with virtual identities.

AI-generated model Aitana, who has 200,000 Instagram followers and reportedly makes $11,000 a month with brand deals.The Clueless Agency

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YouTube is 19 years old. Here's a timeline of how it was founded and grew to become king of video, with some controversies along the way.

In late 2004, three early employees of PayPal — Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim — start working on an idea for a website for users to upload video-dating profiles.

Based on the feedback, the cofounders transformed YouTube into a free video-hosting platform in April 2005, where each clip had a unique link.

In April 2005, the first video ever was uploaded. to the website while YouTube was still in private beta.

Investment firm Sequoia Capital invested $3.5 million in YouTube's Series A round in September 2005.

After clips of the Saturday Night Live sketch "Lazy Sunday" attracted millions of views on YouTube in February 2006, NBC demanded a particularly viral clip be removed from the site.

After a back-and-forth battle between Yahoo and Google, Google acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion in October 2006.

The same month Apple launched its first iPhone model in June 2007, YouTube launched its mobile site.

In August 2007, Google rolled out its first ads on YouTube videos.

In 2009, YouTube teamed up with media company Vivendi to launch a new music video service called Vevo, responding to music companies' complaints about piracy and unfair licensing terms.

In April 2010, Felix Kjellberg joined YouTube to create content under the channel name PewDiePie, where he first provided video-game commentary before expanding into vlogging and internet memes.

In October 2010, Hurley, a YouTube cofounder, stepped down as CEO.

In April 2011, YouTube officially entered the broadcast business with the launch of YouTube Live.

In January 2013, YouTube opened "YouTube Spaces" in Los Angeles, Tokyo, London, New York, and Sao Paulo.

In February 2014, Susan Wojcicki — Google's 16th employee who helped convince the company to buy YouTube — was named the new CEO of the video-sharing platform.

In February 2015, Google launched a "family-friendly" version of the video platform called YouTube Kids.

In March 2017, major companies across the US and in international markets — like AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, and the British government — pulled their ads from YouTube en masse after the Times of London reported that ads were appearing alongside extremist and offensive content.

In April 2017, YouTube TV, an on-demand streaming service, officially launched in select markets.

In November 2017, users found family-friendly videos containing disturbing and abusive content across YouTube and YouTube Kids platforms.

In February 2020, Google broke out the video platform's ad revenue for the first time since YouTube was acquired.

YouTuber MrBeast reached over 100 million subscribers in 2022.

Neal Mohan took over as YouTube's CEO in 2023. The company was once Mohan's client in the mid-2000s when he led strategy as adtech company DoubleClick.

In April 2024, two YouTube employees detailed the company's strategy to lean on video and audio at a virtual seminar for podcasters.

In 2024, YouTube says it plans to build a Vision Pro app down the line.

Competition with TikTok ramped up in 2024 as it puts an emphasis on longer videos.

YouTube becomes the top platform for AI influencers in 2024 as some creators and companies start to grow their audience with virtual identities.