Smosh

Method

Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla start Smosh in Carmichael, California in 2005 with lip sync videos and become one of YouTube's first big channels, paid by ad share once partnership opens. Alloy Digital buys the brand in 2011 for stock, which Padilla later says proves worthless when Defy Media, Alloy's successor, collapses in November 2018. Padilla leaves in June 2017 citing lost creative freedom. Mythical Entertainment buys Smosh in February 2019 for a reported ten million dollars and builds it a 17,000 square foot Burbank studio; in June 2023 Padilla and Hecox buy majority control with financing from Breeze, with Alessandra Catanese as chief executive. Smosh runs on 27 million subscribers, live tours and the Bit City format launched in August 2024.

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The path: money and goods moving

• spawnedIan HecoxHecox's career is Smosh from 2005 through the buyback.2005 to present
• spawnedAnthony PadillaPadilla leaves Smosh in June 2017 and builds a solo interview channel.2005 to 2017
• owned byIan HecoxHecox co founds Smosh in 2005 and with Padilla buys majority ownership back from Mythical Entertainment, announced June 20, 2023.2005 to present
• owned byAnthony PadillaPadilla co founds Smosh, leaves in June 2017 and returns as co owner when he and Hecox buy the brand back from Mythical Entertainment, announced June 20, 2023.2005 to present
• paid byYouTubeSmosh is among the earliest channels admitted to the YouTube Partner Program in 2007 and is the most subscribed channel in 2013. (partly verified)2007 to present
• acquired byMythical EntertainmentMythical Entertainment buys Smosh in February 2019 after Defy Media collapses and keeps a minority after 2023.2019 to 2023
• spawnedMythical EntertainmentIan Hecox and Anthony Padilla buy majority control of Smosh back from Mythical in June 2023, with Mythical keeping a minority stake.2023
• backed byBreezeBreeze provides the financing for the founders' 2023 purchase of Smosh.2023

Representation, events, tools

• represented byDefy MediaAlloy Digital, later Defy, owns and produces Smosh from 2011 until Defy's collapse in November 2018.2011 to 2018
• atMythical Entertainment studio, BurbankSmosh is produced at Mythical's Burbank studio after Mythical buys it from the Defy Media liquidation in 2019 until Hecox and Padilla buy majority control in June 2023.2019 to 2023
• represented byWME (WME Group)Smosh signs with WME in January 2026 to move into film, television and other entertainment categories.2026 to present