has made a return to ITV this weekend, with a fresh face on the judging panel. For the younger audience and boxing enthusiasts, KSI will be a recognisable figure.
Not only is he one of the UK’s top influencers, but he has also carved out an impressive career in the boxing ring. But what do we know about his life both in front of and behind the camera?
KSI’s real name and early life
KSI has joined the judging panel for Britain’s Got Talent (Image: Getty)
KSI, whose real name is Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, grew up in Watford, Hertfordshire. During his school years, he became friends with Simon Minter, better known as Miniminter, who would later become a collaborator in a group of YouTubers known as the Sidemen.
KSI’s journey to YouTube stardom began in 2008 when he started streaming videos of himself playing FIFA from his bedroom at his parents’ house. As his follower count increased, he expanded into vlogging and hit the one million subscriber mark in 2012. His nickname, KSI, is an acronym for Knowledge Strength Integrity.
KSI’s career and businesses
KSI has taken on opponents such as Tommy Fury in the boxing ring (Image: Getty)
In 2013, KSI became part of a collective of British YouTubers known as the Sidemen, which includes some of the UK’s most recognisable influencers. He has been involved in a variety of projects, including gaming and esports-themed shows.
By 2019, The Sunday Times had ranked him second in their list of the top 100 UK influencers, with only gamer PewdieDiePie ahead of him.
In 2015, KSI launched his debut single Lamborghini, which climbed to number 30 in the UK singles chart. He has since released two studio albums, four EPs, and 22 singles. His album All Over the Place topped the UK album charts in 2021.
KSI is also known for his boxing career, which kicked off in 2017 with an amateur match against YouTuber Joe Weller to settle a feud. KSI emerged victorious from the fight, and the following year he faced Logan Paul, with the first match ending in a majority draw, before KSI defeated Logan in a rematch.
Since then, KSI has boxed against professionals like Tommy Fury and Dillon Danis, with millions tuning in to watch his boxing matches on Pay Per View.
In 2023, Louis Theroux produced a documentary for Amazon Prime titled KSI: In Real Life, which chronicled a year in the life of the influencer, including his performances at Reading and Leeds Festival, and his tour which concluded at Wembley Arena.
Alongside his fellow Sidemen, KSI has embarked on several business ventures. They’ve launched Sidemen Clothing, a restaurant chain named Sides, a vodka, and even their own cereal.
In 2021, he established a record label and a boxing promotions business, and a year later collaborated with Logan Paul to launch Prime, which quickly became a massive hit and sold out in the UK.
KSI net worth
KSI is estimated to have a net worth of £13 million (Image: Getty)
With a plethora of business ventures to his name, one might wonder about KSI’s net worth. The Times compiled a list of the UK’s top 30 wealthiest gamers and creators in 2024, placing the Sidemen at 21st with an estimated collective fortune of £50 million.
In 2020, KSI disclosed in a Men’s Health interview that he owns ten properties across England, valued at over £10 million. The Sunday Times also approximated KSI’s annual income at around £13 million, suggesting a substantial overall net worth.
Britain’s Got Talent is set to return on ITV1, STV, and ITVX at 7pm this Saturday.