Who is Lia Shelesh? The Gaming Influencer Who Conquered the World
Growing up, Shelesh was fascinated by the world of gaming and spent countless hours playing various titles, including Call of Duty, Halo and Gears of War.
Lia Shelesh, better known by her YouTube handle SSSniperWolf, is an English-American YouTuber born on October 22, 1992, in Liverpool, England. Her family moved to the United States when she was six years old, and she developed an interest in video games, which would later become a significant part of her career.
Growing up, Shelesh was fascinated by the world of gaming and spent countless hours playing various titles, including Call of Duty, Halo and Gears of War. This early exposure to gaming laid the foundation for her future success as a gaming YouTuber.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Shelesh started uploading videos to her YouTube channel “sexysexysniper” in 2011, featuring Let’s Plays of games like Call of Duty. This channel was active until 2012, after which she moved to the SSSniperWolf channel in 2013. Her handle was derived from Sniper Wolf, a character from the Metal Gear video game series.
Initially, her content focused on walkthroughs and tutorials, but she soon shifted her focus to reaction videos, where she would record her reactions to new games and updates. This format proved to be highly popular, and her channel began to gain traction.
Rise to Prominence and Shift to Reaction Videos
In 2016, Shelesh featured on Day of Doom, an event hosted by id Software. She also hosted the show Clickbait in 2017, where social media influencers competed in unusual challenges. Her channel grew significantly in 2017, and she was among the top ten entrants in Forbes’ Top Influencers list in the Gaming category that year.
This recognition further solidified her position as a prominent figure in the gaming community. Her reaction videos, in particular, resonated with audiences, as they provided an entertaining and relatable perspective on new games and updates. This shift in content helped her channel expand its reach and attract a broader audience.
Personal Life and Controversies
In 2019, Shelesh and her partner Evan Young bought a house in Henderson, Nevada, which they sold in 2022. They moved to Mummy Mountain, Arizona, and were reported to be legally married in September 2023, although they had separated in September 2022 and filed for divorce in late 2022.
The couple’s relationship was subject to intense media scrutiny, with many fans expressing concern over the tumultuous nature of their relationship. In 2023, Evan Young filed a lawsuit against Shelesh for breach of contract and financial misdoings related to their joint company, Channel Red. The lawsuit highlighted the complexities and challenges that often accompany high-profile relationships and business ventures.
Net Worth and Business Ventures
As of 2023, Shelesh was one of the highest-paid YouTubers, with a net worth of US$16 million. Her income comes from YouTube Adsense, brand promotions, and various business ventures. She is also known for her business acumen and has been successful in managing her YouTube channels and other ventures.
Her entrepreneurial spirit has led her to explore new opportunities, including the creation of her own clothing line and collaborations with other gaming influencers. This diversification of her income streams has allowed her to maintain her position as a top earner in the gaming community.
Other Interests and Ventures
In addition to gaming, Shelesh has interests in fashion and beauty. She has mentioned that if she weren’t gaming, she would probably be working in the fashion industry. She has also started a second YouTube channel, Little Lia, which focuses on clothing hauls and other non-gaming content.
This channel allows her to express her creative side and connect with fans who may not be interested in gaming. Her passion for fashion and beauty has also led her to collaborate with various brands and influencers in these industries, further expanding her reach and influence.
