Dude Perfect is a world-famous sports and comedy group known for their jaw-dropping trick shots, lighthearted sports stereotypes, and hilarious competitive battles. They started out as five college roommates with a camera and a simple idea – to film outrageous basketball shots – and transformed it into a YouTube empire with over 61 million subscribers and 19 billion views on their main channel. If you’ve ever searched for “who are Dude Perfect” or been amazed by viral Dude Perfect videos, this comprehensive guide will cover everything you need to know – from the group’s humble origins and members, to their rise as YouTube sensations, the growth of their brand empire, and even their astonishing net worth.
The origin of Dude Perfect traces back to 2009 at Texas A&M University, where five friends began pulling off trick shots in their backyard for fun. It all began with a friendly sandwich bet – whoever missed a basket would buy lunch – which pushed them to attempt ever more unconventional shots. Amused by their own antics, the college roommates (Tyler Toney, twins Coby and Cory Cotton, Garrett Hilbert, and Cody Jones) decided to capture these feats on camera. Their first YouTube upload, known as the “Backyard Edition” video filmed at Toney’s house, quickly went viral – racking up 200,000 views in a week and even landing a feature on Good Morning America.
Encouraged by that early success, the Dudes upped the ante. They filmed a follow-up “Summer Camp Edition” at a Christian camp where two of them were counselors. That second video amassed over 18 million views, firmly establishing Dude Perfect as a viral sensation. Their homemade stunts were so incredible that viewers debated whether the footage was real or fake – a controversy the group welcomed. “We love it when people say it’s fake because it makes the shots seem even more ridiculously impossible,” member Cody Jones said, noting the mystique only fueled their popularity. In truth, they would often attempt a shot dozens of times to get one perfect take (though a few legendary shots were amazingly made on the first try!).
Early on, Dude Perfect also demonstrated their values and faith. They pledged to sponsor a child from Compassion International for every 100,000 views on the summer camp video, linking their newfound fame to a higher purpose. “Our ultimate goal is to glorify Jesus Christ in everything that we do,” the Dudes have said, “We want to use this platform for something much bigger than us.” This positive, faith-driven mission of having fun without resorting to partying or negativity became a core part of their brand in the years to come.
By the end of 2009, the five friends had officially formed Dude Perfect (the name itself implying their “perfect” trick shot reputation) and even set their first Guinness World Record – swishing a basketball shot from the third deck of Texas A&M’s Kyle Field stadium, one of the longest basketball shots ever at the time. Little did they know, this was just the start of a record-breaking journey from college campus fame to global stardom.
One of the most common queries is about the Dude Perfect members themselves – who they are and what roles they play in the group. The lineup consists of five co-founders, each bringing their own personality (and nickname) to the team:
Tyler Toney is often seen as the leader and primary face of Dude Perfect. Born in 1989 in Prosper, Texas, Ty is the one usually introducing videos and pulling off some of the most spectacular trick shots on camera. A former high school quarterback, his strong arm helped nail shots like the famous throw off Kyle Field, blending football technique into basketball trickery. Known by nicknames like “The Beard” (for his trademark facial hair) and the ever-memorable “Rage Monster” character in their comedy sketches, Tyler has a knack for showmanship. He’s also statistically the group’s top competitor – Tyler holds the most Dude Perfect battle wins, proving clutch in their friendly contests. Despite the spotlight, Toney remains humble about their success and often credits faith and teamwork for how far they’ve come.
Cody Jones, born in 1987, earned the nickname “The Tall Guy” for his 6’6” stature. As the tallest member, Cody’s height often comes into play for hilarious effect in videos (like playing the stereotypical “tall basketball guy”). Beyond the jokes, Cody is also known to occasionally step behind the lens – he has served as a cameraman at times for the channel’s creative shots. Fans appreciate Cody’s jovial personality and his role in many Dude Perfect stereotypes skits, where he’s unafraid to be the butt of a joke. In early battle videos, Cody was a strong performer, but he’s perhaps best loved for his good-natured presence. Off camera, he’s a dedicated family man, but on camera he’s the guy happily attempting wild stunts despite a self-professed dislike of heights and a running gag about being “lactose intolerant” in their jokes. As one-fifth of Dude Perfect, “The Tall Guy” helps keep the group grounded and goofy at the same time.
Garrett Hilbert (born 1987) is affectionately dubbed the “Purple Hoser,” a nickname from the early days when he often wore a purple headband or shirt in videos. Garrett’s role in Dude Perfect is that of the energetic organizer and frequent Mr. Fix-It. He and Tyler were friends even before Dude Perfect – they played sports together growing up in Texas – and Garrett’s competitive spirit shines in the group’s challenges. He has a background in architecture (he was an architecture major at A&M) which perhaps contributes to his creative ideas for elaborate trick shot setups. On screen, Garrett is known for his enthusiastic reactions and occasional goofy punishments in battle loss segments. He’s also recognized as the only member who wasn’t in the same fraternity as the others (the rest were in Beta Upsilon Chi), making him jokingly “the real outsider dude” of the crew. In reality, Garrett’s a core part of the Dude Perfect brotherhood. Whether he’s swinging from a rope in an epic trick shot or donning costumes for their comedy bits, Garrett’s high-energy antics are a fan favorite.
Coby Cotton is one half of Dude Perfect’s identical twin duo. Born July 1987 (minutes before his twin brother), Coby is often called “Twin #1.” He’s known as the lovable underdog of the group – for years, Coby had a notorious streak of never winning a Battle video, always coming up just short of victory. This running joke made viewers root for him, and when Coby finally clinched his first win (in a Giant Sumo wrestling battle), it was a huge moment celebrated by fans. Coby’s friendly, optimistic personality shines through in Dude Perfect’s content. He frequently plays the over-the-top characters in their Stereotypes sketches and is game to try anything for a laugh – even if it often ends with him in last place or facing a funny punishment. Outside of battles, Coby contributes behind the scenes and on camera with equal enthusiasm. He’s also the twin who got married in 2017 and has since become a dad, but within Dude Perfect he’ll forever be the guy with the infectious grin whom everyone cheers to “finally get a win.”
Cory Cotton is Coby’s identical twin brother, known endearingly as “Twin #2.” Though identical in looks, Cory has carved out his own identity in the group. He’s a few minutes younger but often the more competitive twin when it comes to challenges. Cory has been willing to endure some outrageous consequences for the sake of content – for instance, he holds the record for the most appearances on the “Wheel Unfortunate” segment of their Overtime show (meaning he frequently has to do ridiculous penalties like shaving his eyebrows or eating weird concoctions). Fans know Cory for his signature celebratory phrase “Let’s go!” and his role as a bit of a daredevil in the crew. Importantly, Cory is also an author – he wrote the book “Go Big: Make Your Shot Count in the Connected World” in 2011, sharing the story and social media strategies behind Dude Perfect’s success. In addition to being a front-facing performer, Cory often assists with the production side (he’s said to help the editors with video editing). As part of Dude Perfect, Cory brings a mix of creative ideas and fearless enthusiasm, helping the team continuously “go big” with new projects.
Dude Perfect’s YouTube channel has grown into one of the platform’s biggest success stories. What began with backyard trick-shot videos has evolved into a full-blown media phenomenon. The group’s content formula centers on high-skill sports tricks blended with humor and camaraderie. Their videos typically fall into a few popular themes:
Thanks to this diverse content and consistent quality, Dude Perfect’s channel growth has been explosive. They hit 1 million subscribers by 2013 and kept climbing; by 2016 they had earned YouTube’s Diamond Play Button for 10 million subs. In 2020, they surpassed 50 million subscribers (one of the first sports channels to do so), and as of 2025 they boast over 61.3 million subscribers – solidifying Dude Perfect as YouTube superstars. In total, their videos have been watched more than 19 billion times, and the channel consistently ranks among the top 20 most-subscribed in the world in the entertainment category.
Dude Perfect has also expanded beyond their main channel. They’ve launched additional YouTube channels like Dude Perfect Plus, Dude Perfect Gaming, and even a Spanish-language channel to reach global audiences. This multi-channel approach, along with content innovation (for example, 2023 saw them experimenting with a reality-show competition series called “Bucket List” where they travel and tackle bucket list adventures), shows how the group continually evolves their brand while staying true to their roots.
Another measure of their YouTube stardom is the caliber of guests and collaborations they attract. Over the years, the Dudes have partnered with many professional athletes and fellow famous YouTubers for special videos. They’ve shot trick baskets with NBA stars like Tyreke Evans, performed football challenges with NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel, bowled with pro bowler Jason Belmonte, and teamed up with YouTube personalities like Mark Rober and Logan Paul on fun projects. These collaborations not only boost their view counts but also underscore Dude Perfect’s reputation as mainstream entertainment influencers. When top sports teams want a viral promo, they call Dude Perfect!
Beyond YouTube, Dude Perfect has built a sprawling brand empire that extends into merchandise, live events, endorsements, and even retail products:
With such massive success on and off YouTube, it’s no surprise that queries about Dude Perfect’s net worth are common. So, how much are Dude Perfect worth? By all estimates, the group has become exceedingly wealthy through their various ventures. As of 2023-2024, the collective net worth of Dude Perfect is around $100 million. This figure accounts for their YouTube ad revenue, sponsorships, merch sales, touring, and investments. Split evenly, it suggests each of the five primary members could be worth roughly $20 million apiece, though individual net worths may vary depending on personal projects and shares.
To put their earning power in perspective: Forbes has consistently listed Dude Perfect among the top-earning YouTubers in the world. In 2020, for example, Forbes estimated the Dude Perfect channel pulled in $23 million in pre-tax earnings in just that year (June 2019 to June 2020). That made them the 3rd highest-paid YouTube stars of 2020. Similarly, in other recent years the group’s annual income has been in the $20–25 million range, rivalling the likes of megastars such as MrBeast and PewDiePie during certain periods. Their inclusion in Forbes’ lists underscores that Dude Perfect isn’t just a viral sensation – it’s a highly profitable enterprise.
The revenue streams contributing to these numbers are diverse. YouTube ad revenue is substantial given their billions of views, but the Dudes also secure big sponsorship deals (which can pay six to seven figures for a single integration in a video). Their live tour ticket sales and merchandise also contribute millions. In essence, Garrett, Cody, Tyler, Coby, and Cory have turned their college hobby into a multi-million dollar career. Each member has been able to buy homes (often in Texas where they’re based), support their families, and even give back to charitable causes – all thanks to the empire built on trick shots and good vibes.
It’s also worth noting that their recent $100M investment deal in 2024 wasn’t just a cash-out; much of that funding is earmarked for future projects (like the HQ complex). Even so, the fact that investors valued the Dude Perfect brand in nine figures speaks volumes about its worth. Few entertainers can say a friendly bet on a sandwich turned them into centimillionaires!
Dude Perfect’s rise has been punctuated by numerous viral videos and record-breaking stunts that captured the internet’s attention. Here are some of the key moments and videos that helped boost their popularity to stratospheric levels:
From making a crazy basketball shot on top of a skyscraper to spoofing everyday scenarios, Dude Perfect’s content library is filled with “must-watch” viral hits. It’s this ability to produce shareable, family-friendly entertainment that has kept them relevant year after year. Each new video still has fans commenting “How do they keep topping themselves?” – yet somehow, they do. And as they continue to dream up bigger projects (who knows, maybe a shot from an airplane or a 1,000-foot tower next?), the internet will surely keep watching.
Dude Perfect consists of Tyler Toney, Cody Jones, Garrett Hilbert, and twins Coby and Cory Cotton—five Texas A&M friends turned YouTube stars.
The group began in 2009 at Texas A&M by filming backyard basketball trick shots that went viral, sparking their now-massive YouTube channel.
Collectively, Dude Perfect’s net worth is estimated at about $100 million, thanks to YouTube ads, merchandise, tours, and major brand partnerships.
Fan favorites include “Water Bottle Flip 2,” “Real Life Trick Shots,” and their record-breaking 856-foot basketball shot from a Las Vegas tower.
Yes. Plans are underway for a Dude Perfect headquarters and entertainment complex featuring a 330-foot “Impossible Shot” tower and interactive sports attractions.
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