Early Life and Background

Evan Fong was born on May 31, 1992, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to parents of Korean and Chinese descent. ^[1] Growing up, Fong developed interests beyond gaming, including playing ice hockey and both electric and acoustic guitar. ^[7] His passion for hockey was serious enough that he played against future NHL stars Tyler Seguin and Jeff Skinner in the Greater Toronto Hockey League with the Toronto Nationals. ^[13]

After graduating from high school in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Fong enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania to study economics. ^[2] ^[13] However, his growing success on YouTube led him to make a pivotal decision in 2011 - he dropped out of university to pursue his online career full-time. ^[6] Initially, his parents were concerned about him sidelining his studies, encouraging him not to forget about his schoolwork when he first started with YouTube. ^[7]

YouTube Career Beginnings

Fong registered his gaming channel "VanossGaming" on September 15, 2011, choosing the alias "Vanoss" which is derived from VANOS, a variable valve timing system developed by BMW. ^[1] ^[13] Early in his career, he signed with multi-channel network Machinima to help monetize his content, and quickly became the most viewed Machinima channel during his time with the network. ^[1]

What distinguished Fong's content from other gaming channels was his unique approach to video creation. His videography consists of montage-style videos featuring himself and other creators playing various video games, with a particular focus on titles like Grand Theft Auto V, Garry's Mod, and various Call of Duty franchise games. ^[1] The videos are characterized by spontaneous humor, witty banter, and genuine reactions that create an atmosphere where viewers feel like they're hanging out with a group of friends. ^[14]

Content Style and Collaborations

A significant aspect of VanossGaming's success stems from his collaborations with other YouTubers, creating what became known as the "Vanoss Crew." ^[7] His close-knit group includes creators like H2ODelirious, Daithi De Nogla, and Terroriser, among others, and their chemistry has become a defining characteristic of his content. ^[14] These collaborations have produced series like "The Magic Tomato," featuring fellow YouTubers Wildcat, Delirious, Terroriser, and Lui Calibre. ^[7]

One notable aspect of his channel's visual identity is his distinctive rainbow thumbnail background. According to gaming community lore, this signature design element actually originated from another YouTuber, White Boy 7 Street, who gave Fong permission to use a similar rainbow background design for his own channel. ^[3]

Business Ventures and Music Production

Beyond YouTube content creation, Fong has diversified into multiple business ventures. He co-founded the record label and management company Avant Garden Records, as well as the entertainment company 3Blackdot. ^[1] In 2015, he helped produce 3Blackdot's first video game, Dead Realm, demonstrating his expansion into game development. ^[1]

Fong has also established himself as a music producer and DJ, performing under the stage name "Rynx" (though he was formerly known by this name). ^[1] ^[7] His musical work specializes in electronic dance music (EDM), downtempo, and indie electronic genres. ^[1] Additionally, he has expanded into voice acting, starring in various animated shows including Paranormal Action Squad and Alpha Betas. ^[1]

Recognition and Earnings

Fong's influence in the gaming community has earned him significant recognition within the industry. He was nominated for "Trending Gamer" at The Game Awards in 2014 and received nominations for best in "Gaming" at both the 8th and 12th Shorty Awards. ^[1] In 2017, Forbes recognized him as one of the top gaming influencers, ranking him third on their list of the world's top gaming influencers. ^[11] ^[12]

During the 2010s, Fong was consistently among the highest-paid gaming YouTubers on the platform. ^[1] In 2017, Forbes reported that he earned $15.5 million, with sponsors paying up to $450,000 to appear in his videos. ^[9] The following year, his earnings reached $17 million, maintaining his position among YouTube's top earners. ^[15]

Current Status and Subscriber Metrics

As of May 2025, VanossGaming's YouTube channel has reached over 26 million subscribers and accumulated more than 16.5 billion total views. ^[4] ^[10] The channel maintains consistent viewership, with videos regularly receiving over one million views each. ^[10] Recent analytics show the channel posting approximately 2.5 videos per week, with an average video length of nearly 25 minutes. ^[10]

VanossGaming (Evan Fong)

VanossGaming (Evan Fong)