Background and Early Life

Zack Nelson, the creator behind the popular YouTube channel JerryRigEverything, was born on June 29, 1988, making him 36 years old as of 2024.^[1] Long before achieving internet fame, Nelson developed his hands-on skills through construction work in high school and building computers as a side job.^[2] His entrepreneurial spirit emerged early, with childhood ventures like mowing lawns and funding his mission to Guatemala through lawn aeration services.^[3]

Nelson's journey into content creation began somewhat accidentally when his Jeep broke down and he was quoted $1,000 for repairs. Realizing he could fix it himself for just $80, he documented the process and uploaded his first video to YouTube.^[4] At the time, he was working full-time as a sales representative at a cell phone store while attending college.^[5]

Channel Creation and Evolution

JerryRigEverything officially launched on July 23, 2012, initially focusing on cell phone repair tutorials.^[6] Nelson started the channel after recognizing a gap in well-made repair videos, drawing from his experience fixing phones at Sprint during college.^[3] The early growth was modest, with Nelson recalling having only 2,000 subscribers after creating 100 videos.^[7]

A pivotal moment came when the cell phone store where Nelson worked closed down. He received four months of severance pay and dedicated that time entirely to building his YouTube presence.^[8] When that period ended, he realized YouTube had become a viable business venture and transitioned to content creation full-time.^[8]

Over time, the channel evolved beyond basic repair tutorials to include comprehensive technology durability tests, particularly the systematic testing of smartphones involving scratching, dropping, and burning devices to assess their resilience.^[9] This unique approach to tech reviewing quickly gained popularity among viewers curious about device durability.

Content Style and Signature Approach

Nelson's content stands out for its methodical approach to testing technology. His durability tests follow a consistent format, examining how various devices withstand real-world abuse.^[1] One of his most popular videos, "iPhone 7 Scratch test - BEND TEST - Durability Video!" has accumulated over 17 million views.^[1] His calm demeanor during videos contrasts with his somewhat intimidating appearance, leading fans to nickname him "The Hitman who is afraid of his mother."^[1]

The channel's official description emphasizes Nelson's transformation of repair passion into "the most viewed cell phone repair channel on the internet," featuring simple explanations and brief tutorials that have helped millions with their own repairs.^[10]

Personal Life and Inspirational Projects

In April 2019, Nelson married Cambry Kaylor, an accomplished equestrian rider and Instagram influencer.^[1] Kaylor became paralyzed from the waist down at age 18 following an equestrian vaulting accident, when she performed an aerial dismount without coordinating with her teammate and landed on her back, severing her spinal cord.^[3]

Kaylor's situation inspired one of Nelson's most impactful projects. Recognizing the astronomical cost of wheelchairs compared to the relatively low cost of materials, Nelson built a prototype off-road wheelchair by welding parts of two electric bikes together.^[3] This led to the creation of "Not a Wheelchair," a company dedicated to producing affordable off-road wheelchairs.^[11] Videos featuring Kaylor and wheelchair-related projects have been particularly popular, with one elevator installation video garnering over 22 million views.^[1]

Current Success Metrics

As of June 2025, JerryRigEverything has achieved remarkable success across multiple metrics. The channel boasts over 8.83 million subscribers with more than 1,239 uploaded videos spanning 12 years.^[12] Recent subscriber counts from real-time tracking show the channel maintaining approximately 9.3 million subscribers.^[13]

The channel's total viewership has exceeded 2.3 billion views, with an average of 1.78 million views per video.^[14] Recent analytics indicate the channel generates between 21-34 million views monthly, with daily views ranging from 1.87 to 2.46 million during peak periods.^[12]

Revenue and Business Performance

Various analytics platforms estimate JerryRigEverything's substantial earning potential. Current projections suggest the channel generates approximately $217,307 monthly from YouTube advertising alone, with yearly estimates reaching $2.6 million.^[12] Daily earnings fluctuate significantly based on viewership, ranging from approximately $3,600 to $15,800 per day.^[12] The channel's estimated net worth through June 2025 reaches $14 million, though these figures represent advertising revenue only and don't account for additional income streams like sponsored content and product sales.^[12]

Expanded Ventures and Collaborations

Beyond YouTube content, Nelson has expanded into various business ventures and collaborations. He has worked with manufacturing companies and factories worldwide to create instructional videos, leveraging his straightforward teaching style for industrial applications.^[10] Notable collaborations include working with other popular YouTubers like Dan and Lincoln Markham of What's Inside, and the late Grant Thompson from The King of Random.^[1]

Nelson has also ventured into ambitious projects like building electric vehicles, including converting a Humvee into an electric vehicle, demonstrating his commitment to sustainable technology and hands-on engineering challenges.^[3] His partnership with Tormach involves manufacturing challenge coins to fund the Not a Wheelchair project, showcasing how he leverages his platform for social impact.^[11]

JerryRigEverything

JerryRigEverything

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