DanTDM

Daniel Robert Middleton was born on November 8, 1991, in Aldershot, Hampshire, England. He pursued studies in music production at the University of Northampton. Before gaining widespread recognition as a YouTube personality, Middleton worked at Tesco. In 2012, he launched his YouTube channel, initially known as TheDiamondMinecart, focusing on gaming content. His early work primarily featured Minecraft videos, which proved to be popular among a young audience. Over time, his channel expanded to include other games like Roblox, Pokémon, and Five Nights at Freddy’s, as well as broader vlog-style content.

Middleton’s career progression included signing with the multi-channel network Maker Studios in August 2014 under their Polaris label. He rebranded his channel to TheDiamondMinecart // DanTDM, and later to DanTDM in December 2016. He distinguished himself through consistent content creation, eventually becoming one of YouTube’s most subscribed and viewed creators. His influence led to significant milestones such as being listed in the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition in 2016 for “Most views for a dedicated Minecraft video channel” and topping Forbes’ list of Highest-Paid YouTube Stars in 2017, earning an estimated £12.2 million.

Beyond his YouTube work, Middleton diversified his career into other media. In 2016, he released a graphic novel, “Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal,” which became a New York Times Best Seller. He also voiced a character in the UK version of the film “Ralph Breaks the Internet” in 2018 and embarked on successful world tours for his live shows, including a rapid sell-out event at the Sydney Opera House. In 2017, he starred in the YouTube Red mini-series “DanTDM Creates a Big Scene.” More recently, in January 2025, Middleton joined Classic FM as a regular presenter for the video game music series “Next Level,” demonstrating his continued engagement across various platforms.