Ethan Payne — better known as Behzinga — is one of Britain’s most recognisable YouTubers and a co-founding member of the Sidemen. His net worth is estimated at $5 million in 2026, built from a decade of gaming content, fitness brand partnerships, and co-ownership of the Sidemen’s multi-million pound business empire including Sides restaurants, XIX Vodka, and Best Breakfasts.
| Full Name | Ethan Leigh Payne |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 20, 1994 |
| Age | 31 years old |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | YouTuber, Streamer, Fitness Influencer |
| Net Worth | $5 Million (2026) |
| Partner | Private |
| Known For | Sidemen co-founder, fitness transformation, gaming content |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Behzinga’s net worth in 2026?
Behzinga’s net worth is estimated at $5 million in 2026. His wealth comes from YouTube advertising revenue, co-ownership of Sidemen businesses (Sides restaurants, XIX Vodka, Sidemen Clothing, Best Breakfasts), brand partnerships with fitness and lifestyle companies, and streaming income from his Twitch channel.
What is Behzinga’s real name?
Behzinga’s real name is Ethan Leigh Payne. He was born on June 20, 1994, in Battersea, London, England. He has used the Behzinga alias since his early gaming days on YouTube, and the name has stuck throughout his career as he expanded beyond gaming into fitness and lifestyle content.
How did Behzinga make his money?
Behzinga built his wealth through YouTube gaming and comedy content, shared business ownership with the Sidemen group (Sides restaurant chain, XIX Vodka, Sidemen Clothing), Twitch streaming revenue, and brand partnerships with companies like PRIME and various fitness brands. His viral fitness transformation — losing over 8 stone to run the London Marathon — also attracted major wellness brand partnerships that boosted his income significantly.
Is Behzinga still in the Sidemen?
Yes, Behzinga remains a full co-founding member of the Sidemen in 2026. He appears regularly in Sidemen Sunday videos and participates in the group’s charity events. Despite occasional breaks from content creation, he has maintained his place within the group and continues to contribute to their shared business ventures.
How much weight did Behzinga lose?
Behzinga lost approximately 8 stone (over 50kg) in a famous fitness transformation that culminated in him running the London Marathon in 2019. He documented the journey on YouTube in a series called “How To Be Behzinga,” which garnered millions of views and inspired fans worldwide. The transformation remains one of the most celebrated personal stories in British YouTube history.
What businesses does Behzinga own?
As a Sidemen co-founder, Behzinga co-owns several successful businesses: Sides (a restaurant chain with locations across the UK), XIX Vodka (a premium spirits brand), Sidemen Clothing (a streetwear brand), and Best Breakfasts (a cereal brand). Each of these ventures generates passive income for all seven Sidemen members beyond their individual content creation earnings.
How many subscribers does Behzinga have?
As of 2026, Behzinga’s main YouTube channel has approximately 4.9 million subscribers with over 585 million video views. He also maintains a Twitch streaming presence and a secondary channel, and regularly contributes to the Sidemen group channel which has over 24 million subscribers.
Where is Behzinga from?
Behzinga is from Battersea, London, England. He grew up in south London and has remained based in the UK throughout his career. His London upbringing and support for West Ham United — the club he collaborates with regularly through his Behzinga football content — are both central to his online persona and content identity.
Is Behzinga a fitness influencer?
Yes, Behzinga became a significant fitness influencer following his 8-stone weight loss transformation documented in the “How To Be Behzinga” YouTube series. He ran the London Marathon in 2019 after his transformation and has since collaborated with fitness brands and motivated hundreds of thousands of fans to start their own health journeys. His fitness content sits alongside his gaming videos as a key part of his brand identity.
Net Worth Breakdown
| Income Source | Estimated Amount | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Ad Revenue | $200K–350K/year | Annual (personal) | Main channel + Sidemen channel share; 4.9M subscribers |
| Sidemen Business Ventures | $400K–600K/year | Annual (personal) | Share of Sides, XIX Vodka, Sidemen Clothing, Best Breakfasts |
| Twitch Streaming | $80K–150K/year | Annual (personal) | Subscriptions, donations, gaming stream revenue |
| Brand Partnerships | $250K–400K/year | Annual (personal) | Fitness brands, PRIME, lifestyle sponsors |
| West Ham & Football Collaborations | $50K–100K/year | Annual (personal) | Paid football content and club partnership videos |
| Estimated Total Net Worth | $5 Million (2026) | ||
Career Overview
Ethan Payne launched his YouTube channel in 2012, initially posting gaming montages and commentary videos that attracted a small but dedicated audience. His comedy-infused approach to gaming content — particularly FIFA and Call of Duty — distinguished him from more serious gaming channels and helped him build a loyal fanbase.
The Sidemen collective, formed in 2013, proved transformational for Behzinga. The group’s combined subscriber base and shared production resources amplified everyone’s individual growth. The Sidemen Sunday format — high-budget challenge videos released every week — became a cornerstone of British YouTube culture, consistently generating millions of views and attracting major brand partnerships.
Behzinga’s most significant individual milestone came with his fitness transformation. Starting from a weight of around 20 stone, he committed to a year-long journey to lose weight and run the London Marathon in 2019. The “How To Be Behzinga” documentary series, which chronicled this transformation, became some of his most-watched content and earned him a new audience beyond gaming fans — people looking for genuine inspiration in health and fitness.
His football content has also been a consistent revenue driver. Regular collaborations with West Ham United, filming challenge videos with Premier League players, and appearing at football events have kept him relevant to the UK football audience. His 2025 interview with Kyle Walker-Peters showcased his ability to access top-tier football talent — a unique asset among British YouTubers.
Early Life
Ethan Leigh Payne was born on June 20, 1994, in Battersea, south London. He grew up in a working-class environment and has spoken openly about the challenges of his upbringing, including family difficulties that he channelled into his motivation to succeed. His passion for gaming as a teenager provided an escape and, eventually, a career.
He began uploading YouTube videos in his early teens, combining his love of gaming — particularly FIFA and Call of Duty — with an instinct for comedy that would prove central to his later success. The early Sidemen connections grew organically from mutual gaming interests shared with other young British YouTubers who would become some of the UK’s biggest digital creators.
Personal Life
Behzinga keeps much of his personal life private, though he has been open about his mental health journey alongside his physical transformation. He has spoken candidly about the emotional aspects of his weight loss — noting that the journey was as much about mental health as physical fitness, and that gaming had historically been both an escape and an obstacle to physical activity.
He is a devoted West Ham United supporter and regularly attends matches, often featuring football-related content on his channel. His commitment to charitable causes — particularly the Sidemen charity matches which have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for good causes — reflects a genuine generosity that his fanbase deeply appreciates.
Net Worth Over Time
Behzinga’s financial trajectory reflects the maturation of the Sidemen from content creators into a diversified media and business group. In the early years (2013–2017), his income was primarily from YouTube advertising, estimated at £80K–150K per year as his subscriber count grew steadily through gaming content.
The 2019 fitness transformation was a watershed moment for his brand value. Major wellness and lifestyle companies began approaching him for sponsorship deals, significantly increasing his off-YouTube income. By 2020, his estimated earnings had doubled, with brand partnerships accounting for an increasing share of his revenue.
The Sidemen’s business expansion from 2020 onwards — Sides restaurants, XIX Vodka, Best Breakfasts — gave Behzinga passive income streams that don’t depend on content upload frequency. This provides him financial resilience during periods when he takes breaks from active content creation, and has contributed to pushing his net worth estimate to $5 million by 2026.
Little-Known Facts
- Behzinga lost over 8 stone (50+ kg) in a transformation documented on YouTube — one of the most celebrated fitness stories in British creator history
- He ran the London Marathon in 2019 after his dramatic weight loss, inspiring thousands of fans to start their own fitness journeys
- He co-owns Sides restaurant chain, XIX Vodka, Sidemen Clothing, and Best Breakfasts as part of the Sidemen business empire
- His “How To Be Behzinga” documentary series is among the most-viewed fitness transformation content ever made by a British YouTuber
- He has a close working relationship with West Ham United, filming regular content with Premier League players at the club’s training ground