Ryan Trahan Explained

Ryan Trahan
Birth Name:Ryan Michael Trahan
Birth Date:7 October 1998
Birth Place:Sugar Land, Texas, U.S.
Education:Rice High School
Youtube Handle:@ryan
Youtube Display Name:Ryan Trahan
Youtube Handle2:@rytrahan
Youtube Display Name2:ryan trahan
Youtube Handle3:ryanlol
Youtube Display Name3:ryan lol
Youtube Years Active:2013–present
Youtube Subscribers:22.3 million
Youtube Views:5.70 billion
Stats Update:March 3, 2026
Alma Mater:Texas A&M University (dropped out)
Youtube Handles:ryan3000

Ryan Michael Trahan[1] [2] (;[3] born October 7, 1998) is an American YouTuber, vlogger, and businessman. He is best known for his "penny series", which he has done several times since 2017.

Early life and education

Ryan Michael Trahan was born on October 7, 1998, in Sugar Land, Texas.[4] He attended Rice High School, where he graduated as valedictorian in 2017.[5] While in high school and then at Texas A&M University, Trahan was a cross country runner, placing third in the Aggieland Open Competition in 2017.[6] Trahan later dropped out of Texas A&M to pursue his career after the National Collegiate Athletic Association declared him ineligible to compete as a student athlete due to advertising his business interests.

Social media career

Trahan started his YouTube channel on October 27, 2013. Originally producing content on running, Trahan now creates a variety of content, largely focused on visiting one-star-rated establishments around the country.[7] [8]

Trahan was the winner of the "First Person" category at the 2023 13th Streamy Awards; he also participated in a "creator roundtable" before the ceremony and presented a portion of the event.[9]

Penny challenges

In June 2022, Trahan started a month-long series in which he attempted to travel from California to North Carolina to deliver MrBeast a single penny, using only funds from the original penny. Inspired by Gary Vaynerchuk, he had previously completed similar challenges, in which he had tried to convert a penny into a thousand dollars and convert a penny into funds to buy a house.[10] Trahan announced that the 2022 "Penny Challenge" would also serve as a fundraiser for Feeding America, and set a $100,000 goal. By the end of the challenge, he had raised $1.38 million.[11]

Trahan financed the challenge through completing online surveys, mowing lawns, dog walking, DoorDash deliveries, and selling items such as soft drinks, bottled water, and golf balls, among other methods.[12] To incentivize donations, Trahan would reset his funds to an original penny for a $50,000 donation and pledged to get a tattoo of the donor's design if someone donated $100,000.[13] [14] The series was largely sponsored by PayPal Honey.[15]

The following year, Trahan announced he would be doing the challenge again, aiming to get from Paris to New York City in one week while raising $250,000 for Water.org.[16] [17] With the support of the public, Trahan raised over $400,000.

"50 States in 50 Days" Challenge

In June 2025, Trahan announced that he and his wife, Haley Pham, would visit all 50 U.S. states in 50 days, staying in a unique Airbnb in each one, with a goal of raising $1,000,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The project attracted the attention of several celebrities and brands, including T-Mobile, Airbnb, Kia, Hobby Lobby, MrBeast, Starbucks, Paramount, and Mark Rober.[18] To encourage donations, Trahan created a series of incentives, including a series of penalties from a mechanical device called the Wheel of Doom, which he had to spin every time a donor donated $50,000 or more. As of January 2026, the fundraiser has raised over $11.65 million.[19]

Business career

Trahan started a water bottle brand in 2016 with his friend Caden Wiese, named Neptune Bottle. Trahan eventually left Texas A&M University after the National Collegiate Athletic Association ruled him ineligible due to using his YouTube channel to share running videos while advertising his company as a student athlete.[20] [21] Although Trahan sought a waiver with the association allowing him to continue running his business while remaining an athlete,[22] he dropped out of university to continue working on the business[23] [24] and his YouTube channel.[25] According to Trahan, in the first year of its existence, Neptune Bottle had earned over $50,000 in revenue.[26] In 2023, he started a clothing line, Howdy Howdy.[27]

Joyride Sweets

In 2024, Trahan announced that he joined a candy company, called Joyride Sweets, where he became co-owner[28] and CCO. Along with owner Tyler Merrick, Trahan aims for the creation of non-GMO, vegan, and low-carbohydrate products. On the day of the product's release, it sold out at Target.[29] Trahan established a mascot to represent Joyride by the name of Joyride Jerry.[30] On June 14, 2025, Joyride broke the Guinness World Record for "Most photos of people holding candy uploaded to Instagram in one hour" when fans uploaded 1,733 photos of themselves holding the product.[31]

Personal life

Trahan lives in Austin, Texas. In 2020, he married fellow YouTuber Haley Pham.[32]

He is a Christian. Trahan came to the faith after initially trying to challenge his wife's beliefs while they were dating. He described himself as a "cynical atheist”. In July 2020, he started to feel unfulfilled with life despite his earnings from his YouTube career. That led him to take "a lot less cynical approach towards asking questions." Trahan has stated that around that time he "did land on Jesus. I started developing a relationship with God...Now it is my source of joy. It is my source of love. It is my source of everything."[33] [34]

Awards and nominations

YearCeremonyCategoryResult
202212th Streamy AwardsCreator For Social Good[35]
Breakout Creatorrowspan="1"
202313th Streamy AwardsCreator of the Year[36]
First Person

References

Primary sources

Notes and References

  1. My last video . 2024-02-13 . Trahan . Ryan Michael. 2025-04-14 . YouTube . February 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240217162708/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAixrLE_Wro . live .
  2. I Tested One Star Kitchen Gadgets. DiGiovanni. Nicholas Channing. 8:10. 2024-04-27. 2025-12-02. YouTube.
  3. Q&A - Thanks for 20K subscribers! . 2017-10-24 . Trahan . Ryan Michael . 2025-05-17 . YouTube.
  4. I Tested 1-Star Drive Thrus . en . 2024-04-21 . . 11:26.
  5. Web site: Hale . James . 7 February 2023 . YouTube Millionaires: Ryan Trahan, Who's Gaining More Than 10K Subscribers Every Single Day, Is Ready To Make 2020 His Best Year Ever . 2023-05-10 . Tubefilter . en-US . November 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221122070043/https://www.tubefilter.com/2020/02/06/youtube-millionaires-ryan-trahan/ . live .
  6. Web site: Price . Shawn . 10 August 2017 . Texas A&M's Ryan Trahan earns SEC Freshman Runner of the Week honor . 2023-05-10 . KBTX . en . May 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230510193043/https://www.kbtx.com/content/sports/Texas-AMs-Ryan-Trahan-earns-SEC-Freshman-Runner-of-the-Week-honor-450300143.html . live .
  7. Web site: Rosales . Lara . 7 February 2023 . How Ryan Trahan Really Became So Famous On YouTube . 2023-05-10 . Nicki Swift . en-US . May 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230510203430/https://www.nickiswift.com/1192182/how-ryan-trahan-really-became-so-famous-on-youtube/ . live .
  8. Web site: 31 March 2023 . Revenge is usually served hot. For Ryan Trahan, it's ice cold -- and sponsored by Google. . 2023-05-10 . Tubefilter . en-US . May 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230510204530/https://www.tubefilter.com/2023/03/31/ryan-trahan-sponsored-google-samsung-branded-portal-a/ . live .
  9. Web site: Hale . James . 2023-08-28 . Here are your 2023 Streamy Award winners . 2024-01-04 . Tubefilter . en-US . November 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231118132808/https://www.tubefilter.com/2023/08/28/2023-streamy-award-winners/ . live .
  10. Web site: What's Ryan Trahan's secret to going viral? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230510203430/https://blog.youtube/creator-and-artist-stories/ryan-trahan-thumbnail-editing-secrets-to-going-viral/ . May 10, 2023 . 2023-05-10 . blog.youtube . en-us.
  11. Web site: Gutelle . Sam . 30 June 2022 . Ryan Trahan's 30-day journey to MrBeast got more than 190 million views and raised $1.38 million for charity . 2023-05-10 . Tubefilter . en-US . May 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230510230047/https://www.tubefilter.com/2022/06/30/ryan-trahan-charity-vlog-series-views-raises-mrbeast/ . live .
  12. Web site: Rose Jr. . Paul . 2022-07-15 . Every Business Ryan Trahan Used To Survive on One Penny for 30 Days Wealth of Geeks . 2024-01-04 . wealthofgeeks.com . en-US . January 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104200857/https://wealthofgeeks.com/ryan-trahan-penny-a-day/ . live .
  13. Web site: Green . Jonathan . 24 June 2022 . Ryan Trahan Is Flying Across America With Just A Penny - Travel Radar . 2023-05-10 . en-GB . May 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230510201523/https://travelradar.aero/ryan-trahan-flying-across-america-with-just-penny/ . live .
  14. Web site: Newman . Vicki . 2022-06-10 . YouTuber Ryan Trahan has to let $100k donor Paul Dodds pick his tattoo . 2024-01-04 . HITC . en-GB . January 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104200857/https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/06/10/paul-dodds-ryan-trahan/ . live .
  15. Web site: Gutelle . Sam . 10 October 2022 . Ryan Trahan has turned his "penny challenge" into a speedrun . 2023-05-10 . Tubefilter . en-US . May 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230510204527/https://www.tubefilter.com/2022/10/10/ryan-trahan-one-penny-challenge-speedrun-new-york-city/ . live .
  16. Web site: 2023-07-07 . Ryan Trahan's latest penny challenge raised $400,000 for Water.org . 2023-07-31 . Tubefilter . en-US . July 13, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230713074838/https://www.tubefilter.com/2023/07/07/ryan-trahan-penny-challenge-international-water-org/ . live .
  17. Web site: Hale . James . 2023-06-23 . Ryan Trahan's penny series is back...and going international? . 2024-01-04 . Tubefilter . en-US . June 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230629140128/https://www.tubefilter.com/2023/06/23/ryan-trahan-penny-series/ . live .
  18. Web site: 50 States in 50 Days . 2025-06-25 . 50-states-in-50-days.experience.stjude.org now he has reached $1,000,000 and is now raising $2,000,000 - 3,000,000. en.
  19. Web site: 50 States in 50 Days . 2025-07-21 . 50-states-in-50-days.experience.stjude.org . en . June 25, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250625014320/https://50-states-in-50-days.experience.stjude.org/ . live .
  20. Chavez . Chris . 21 September 2017 . Texas A&M Runner Ryan Trahan Says He Was Ruled Ineligible For Popular YouTube Page . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230510193042/https://www.si.com/more-sports/2017/09/21/texas-am-runner-ryan-trahan-ineligible-ncaa-ruled-ineligbile-youtube-page . May 10, 2023 . 10 May 2023 . Sports Illustrated.
  21. Web site: Nathan . Alec . September 21, 2017 . NCAA Rules Runner Ryan Trahan Can't Use Athletics to Promote His Company . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230510193042/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2734504-ncaa-rules-runner-ryan-trahan-cant-use-athletics-to-promote-his-company . May 10, 2023 . May 10, 2023 . Bleacher Report . en.
  22. Web site: Huebsch . Tim . 22 September 2017 . Cross-country runner in hot water with NCAA for popular YouTube page . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230510193043/https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/ryan-trahan-ncaa-eligibility/ . May 10, 2023 . 2023-05-10 . Canadian Running Magazine . en-US.
  23. Web site: 24 March 2022 . Ryan Trahan's Journey From College Dropout to 6.8 Million YouTube Subscribers . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230510193044/https://www.shopify.com/uk/blog/ryan-trahan . May 10, 2023 . 2023-05-10 . Shopify . en-GB.
  24. Web site: Gruenling . Jessica . 7 November 2017 . Texas A&M cross country runner leaving school to grow his business . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230401041227/https://www.kbtx.com/content/news/Texas-AM-cross-country-leaving-school-to-pursue-business--455738843.html . April 1, 2023 . 2023-05-10 . KBTX . en.
  25. Web site: Weiss . Geoff . 2017-09-22 . Another Student Athlete Facing Scrutiny From NCAA For Budding YouTube Presence . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320190011/https://www.tubefilter.com/2017/09/22/student-athlete-ncaa-scrutiny-youtube/ . March 20, 2023 . 2024-01-04 . Tubefilter . en-US.
  26. News: Payne . Marissa . 22 September 2017 . Texas A&M runner's water bottle company causes NCAA kerfuffle . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230208113607/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/09/22/texas-am-runners-water-bottle-company-causes-ncaa-kerfuffle/ . February 8, 2023 . 10 May 2023 . The Washington Post.
  27. 1574412684212191233 . RyanTrahan . NEW MERCH LIVE . Ryan Trahan . 2022-09-26 . 2022-08-07.
  28. JOYRIDE . YouTube Sensation Ryan Trahan Takes a Sweet Turn as JOYRIDE's Chief Creative Officer Launching First-of-its-Kind Sour Strips and Viral Social-First Ad Campaign . 2024-07-29 . . en . October 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241007101813/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/youtube-sensation-ryan-trahan-takes-a-sweet-turn-as-joyrides-chief-creative-officer-launching-first-of-its-kind-sour-strips-and-viral-social-first-ad-campaign-302063175.html . live .
  29. Web site: Wescott . Adam . Ryan Trahan Leaves Sour New Taste In Audience Mouth . . 18 May 2024 . 27 February 2024 . December 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241203154507/https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamwescott/2024/02/27/ryan-trahan-leaves-sour-new-taste-in-audience-mouth/?sh=77a0f939f548 . live .
  30. mascot . en . 2025-05-16 . www.youtube.com . May 16, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250516230324/https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SXlR007BFgU . live .
  31. Web site: Youtuber and candy connoisseur Ryan Trahan breaks world record with help from fans . https://web.archive.org/web/20250701053508/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/commercial/2025/6/youtuber-and-candy-connoisseur-ryan-trahan-breaks-world-record-with-help-from-fans . July 1, 2025 . 2025-07-03 . Guinness World Records . en . live .
  32. I Proposed . 2020-05-23 . en-US . Ryan Trahan . 2023-08-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230721201824/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21BL0EdCWAE . July 21, 2023 . live . YouTube.
  33. How Ryan Trahan turned a penny into $1,000,000 - I spent a day with RYAN TRAHAN . 2022-08-17 . SmoshAlike . 2025-06-10 . YouTube . June 26, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250626030649/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkOUCgi4WSM . live .
  34. Web site: Berns . Christel . 2023-06-29 . Atheist YouTuber With 12 Million Subscribers Accepts Christ After Challenging His Girlfriend's Faith . 2025-06-10 . Christian Learning & News . en-US.
  35. Web site: Chan . J. Clara . 5 December 2022 . YouTube Streamy Awards: MrBeast Takes Top Creator; Full List of Winners . 2023-05-10 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US . December 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221206005336/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/2022-youtube-streamy-awards-winners-1235274871/ . live .
  36. Web site: Lewis . Hilary . 2023-08-28 . Streamy Awards: MrBeast Wins Creator of the Year . 2024-01-04 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US . November 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231111223146/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/2023-streamy-awards-complete-winners-list-1235575577/ . live .

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