# DanTDM

Daniel Robert Middleton (born 8 November 1991), better known as DanTDM (formerly TheDiamondMinecart), is a British YouTuber, gamer, and author. He is primarily known for his Let's Play videos, particularly those featuring Minecraft, Roblox, Pokémon and Five Nights at Freddy's. Middleton's YouTube channel, which he started in 2012, has amassed over 29 million subscribers and 19 billion views as of 2024, making him one of the most popular content creators on the platform.
Middleton began his YouTube career with Minecraft content, later expanding to other games and vlog-style videos. He has published a graphic novel, voiced a character in the UK version of the film Ralph Breaks the Internet, and embarked on several world tours featuring live shows. In 2016, he was listed in the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition for "Most views for a dedicated Minecraft video channel."
Beyond his online presence, Middleton has been involved in various charitable initiatives and has won several awards, including multiple Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in the UK Favourite Gamer category. In 2017, Middleton topped the Forbes list of Highest-Paid YouTube Stars, earning £12.2 million (about $16.5 million) in one year.

## Personal life

Daniel Robert Middleton was born on 8 November 1991 in Aldershot, England, as the elder of two siblings. His parents divorced when he was a child. He attended the University of Northampton where he studied music production. Prior to his career as a YouTuber and author, he worked at Tesco, telling the BBC in 2017 "When I earned enough money off YouTube to match it [my wage at Tesco] my wife persuaded me to do it."
Middleton married his girlfriend, Jemma (b. 9 April 1992), in March 2013. Their first son, Asher, was born on 5 January 2020, and their second son, Miles, was born on 22 November 2022. He opened up with viewers about his struggles with mental health after experiencing severe depression due to the isolation of the COVID-19 lockdowns.
On 6 September 2023, Middleton posted on his Twitter and Instagram about the unexpected death of his dog, Ellie. On 7 September 2023, he posted on YouTube a video titled "goodbye ellie."

## Career

In 2012, Middleton first created TheDiamondMinecart, a gaming channel. In August 2014, Middleton signed with the multi-channel network Maker Studios under its Polaris label. He decided to change his channel's name to TheDiamondMinecart // DanTDM later on, and on 12 December 2016, to DanTDM. He currently produces videos out of his home studio in Wellingborough. Middleton's content is largely targeted at children, though many teens and adults watch it as well.
As his original fanbase that propelled his career has grown up, Middleton has scaled back his video production schedule and focused more on creating graphic novels, hosting live shows, and DanTDM merchandise. He released a graphic novel titled "Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal" on 6 October 2016, which remained at the number one spot on The New York Times Best Seller list for hardcover graphic books for eleven weeks. He was a featured guest at the Cheltenham Literature Festival and went on a book tour that included parts of the UK and a visit to New York City. He then embarked on a tour through the United States and Australia in 2017. His live show at the Sydney Opera House was the second fastest to sell out in the venue's history. While acknowledging that he might not be a household name "yet", he was noted by the Tampa Bay Times as being "one of YouTube's brightest stars and biggest successes."
In 2017, he starred in a web series called DanTDM Creates a Big Scene starring himself and featuring other social media entertainers and actors. The series premiered on 7 April 2017 exclusively for YouTube Red, YouTube's subscription service (now called YouTube Premium). The show "follows DanTDM and his group of animated friends as they battle to keep their live show on the road". That year, TODAY praised his "infectious laugh and an unmistakable British accent" and his personal growth from a "shy, low-profile YouTuber to the master of a creative empire."
In 2019, Middleton was ranked 41 in UK's Top 100 Influencer List by The Sunday Times, which also estimated Middleton's net worth to be £25 million.
Middleton appeared at TommyInnit's TommyInnit & Friends live show at the Brighton Dome on 1 July 2022, with other online content creators, including jacksepticeye, JackManifoldTV, and Nihachu.
   | DanTDM | Twitter |
   | @dantdm |
   What happened to YouTubers man..
   I can't not say anything anymore. This is selling stuff for the sake of making money, simple. How does this benefit their fans?
   This is selling crap to kids who don't know better than to trust the people who are selling it to them.
   Do better.
   Sep 17, 2024
      | Dexerto | Twitter |
      | @Dexerto |
      MrBeast, KSI, and Logan Paul are releasing ‘Lunchly’, a Lunchables competitor
      It will feature Prime, Feastables chocolate, and a variation of food
      Sep 16, 2024
In 2024, Middleton spoke out against the launch of Lunchly, a snack-brand kit founded as a joint venture between YouTubers KSI, Logan Paul, and MrBeast. Middleton tweeted in part, "... How does this benefit their fans? This is selling crap to kids who don't know better than to trust the people who are selling it to them. Do better." Middleton's tweet garnered over 600,000 likes, and inspired YouTubers such as Rosanna Pansino to also speak out. This caused responses from all three founders.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2018 | Ralph Breaks the Internet | eBoy | Voice role; UK theatrical version |
| 2019 | DanTDM Presents: The Contest | Himself | Interactive cinema event |
| 2021 | Free Guy | Himself | Cameo |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2016–2017 | Skylanders Academy | Cy | Voice role; 2 episodes |
| 2017 | DanTDM Creates a Big Scene | Himself | YouTube Original mini-series; 6 episodes |
| 2017 | YouTube Rewind | Himself | Only in 2017 |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Refs |
| 2016 | Minecraft: Story Mode | Himself | Episode 6: "A Portal to Mystery" | |

## Awards and nominations

* Guinness World Record for "Most goals scored in a game of Rocket League for a team of 2" (shared with Tom "Syndicate" Cassell) and "Most goals scored in a game of Rocket League (team of three)".
* Guinness World Record for "Most views for a dedicated Minecraft video channel".
* Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in the category UK Favourite Tipster: 2015 and 2016.
* Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in the category UK Favourite Gamer: 2020.

## Publications

* DanTDM (6 October 2016). Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-1409168393.
* DanTDM (17 November 2016). Official DanTDM 2017 Diary and Activity Book: Lots of Things to Make and Do. Trapeze. ISBN 978-1409171188.