A 19-year-old who left college to explain AI on TikTok says he makes around six figures a month from brand deals
Maverick Maltin makes short videos showing everyday people how to use tools like ChatGPT, and says all of his income comes from sponsorships.
Subject: Maverick MaltinShort-form AI explainer videos paid for by brand sponsorships
Case Overview & Background
Maltin started posting AI videos on TikTok in May 2025, the summer after his first year at Arizona State University, and one of his first videos passed a million views. He left school to do it full time. He told Business Insider he has been making around six figures a month for the last few months, that brand deals are 100% of his revenue, and that he has done more than a hundred of them.
How AI Is Used
Step-by-Step Process
Instead of technical AI content for young people, he aimed at Americans aged roughly 30 to 65 who want simple, practical uses.
He makes his own faster version of AI topics that are already trending, often within a day or two.
He puts the AI tool in the opening line and uses curiosity hooks.
He built an engaged audience of about 80,000 to 90,000 TikTok followers before his first paid deal.
He signed with an agency and hired a video editor so he can film more.
Customer Acquisition & Distribution
Limitations, Risks & Failure Modes
What may not apply to you, and what could go wrong:
- Income depends entirely on brand deals, which can dry up if the audience or the platforms change
- The figure is given only as a range word (six figures), not an exact amount
- Fast trend chasing can be hard to keep up; he calls consistency his biggest challenge
- Contracts need proper legal review; AI review alone is risky
Key Takeaways
- A clear, underserved audience can matter more than technical depth
- Sponsors follow an engaged audience, so build trust before monetizing
- Outsourcing editing frees time for the work only you can do
Sources
Business Insider: I bet on AI instead of college. Now I make six figures a month.
Note: As-told-to essay by Agnes Applegate. States the around six figures a month figure, that brand deals are 100% of revenue, and that Business Insider reviewed financial documents.
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