Man, it’s inspiring to see how small blogs, often created by passionate individuals, can evolve into some of the most valuable and influential websites on the internet. From political commentary to tech news, these blogs have grown into powerful media platforms today. Here are examples of successful websites that started as blogs, their estimated worth, and their impressive monthly traffic.
1. HuffPost
Started: 2005
Estimated Worth: $50-100 million
Monthly Traffic: ~6 million visits
HuffPost, founded by Arianna Huffington, was initially a political blog that quickly expanded to cover a wide range of topics, including entertainment, news, and lifestyle. Today, despite the shift in ownership over the years, it remains a leading news site, most recently being sold as part of a larger media deal to Apollo Global Management.
How They Made It Big: Launched in 2005 by Arianna Huffington, HuffPost expanded rapidly by combining political commentary with news aggregation. It made its big break when it became a go-to source for political news during the 2008 U.S. elections. AOL acquired it for $315 million in 2011, cementing its status as a media giant.
2. Mashable
Started: 2005
Estimated Worth: $50 million
Monthly Traffic: ~15 million visits
Mashable started in Pete Cashmore’s bedroom as a blog focusing on social media and tech trends. Today, it’s a digital media powerhouse covering entertainment, culture, tech, and more. Ziff Davis acquired the site in 2017 for $50 million.
How They Made It Big: Pete Cashmore started Mashable in 2005 as a blog on social media and tech trends. By covering emerging topics like social networks, the site gained rapid traction. Mashable grew even more during the rise of Facebook and Twitter, with Ziff Davis acquiring it in 2017 for $50 million.
3. TechCrunch
Started: 2005
Estimated Worth: $100 million+
Monthly Traffic: ~20 million visits
In 2005, TechCrunch was a blog created by Michael Arrington about Silicon Valley startups and venture capital. Today, it’s a go-to site for tech news and events like Disrupt. Part of the Verizon Media family, TechCrunch remains one of the most trusted sources in the tech industry.
How They Made It Big: It became influential by breaking stories about emerging tech companies and helping them gain significant industry credibility. AOL purchased TechCrunch in 2010 for $25-30 million, boosting its profile even further.
4. The Penny Hoarder
Started: 2010
Estimated Worth: ~$102 million (sold to Clearlink in 2020)
Monthly Traffic: ~10-15 million visits
Founded by Kyle Taylor, The Penny Hoarder began as a personal finance blog focused on saving money, making extra income, and frugal living. It grew into one of the most popular personal finance sites, showing how niche topics can have widespread appeal.
How They Made It Big: Kyle Taylor started The Penny Hoarder in 2010 as a personal finance blog offering tips on saving money and side hustles. It made it big by focusing on relatable financial content during the post-2008 recession. The site’s user-focused content and SEO growth helped it grow rapidly, leading to its sale in 2020 for $102 million.
5. Engadget
Started: 2004
Estimated Worth: $50-100 million
Monthly Traffic: ~20-25 million visits
Peter Rojas founded Engadget as a blog focused on gadgets and consumer electronics in 2004. Today, it’s part of Verizon Media and remains a leading authority on tech news, reviews, and gadgets.
How They Made It Big: AOL acquired it in 2005, and the site’s consistent coverage of gadgets helped it remain a top destination for tech news.
6. Lifehacker
Started: 2005
Estimated Worth: $50-80 million
Monthly Traffic: ~10-15 million visits
In 2005, Gina Trapani created Lifehacker to share productivity hacks and tech tips. The blog quickly gained popularity among tech enthusiasts and has since become one of the top sites for life hacks, covering a wide range of topics from health to productivity.
How They Made It Big: Its big break came as it gained a dedicated readership during the mid-2000s, with its simple, actionable advice attracting millions of users.
7. Perez Hilton
Started: 2004
Estimated Worth: $30 million
Monthly Traffic: ~3-5 million visits
Mario Lavandeira, aka Perez Hilton, launched his celebrity gossip blog in 2004. Known for its provocative and humorous take on Hollywood, the site grew into a media sensation, helping Hilton himself become a notable figure in the entertainment world.
How They Made It Big: It became a big hit in the mid-2000s, especially when Perez broke big celebrity stories before mainstream media.
8. The Verge
Started: 2011
Estimated Worth: $100-200 million
Monthly Traffic: ~25-30 million visits
Launched by former Engadget editor Joshua Topolsky in 2011, The Verge quickly became a leader in tech, culture, and science reporting. Now part of Vox Media, it’s known for its in-depth reporting and unique multimedia content.
How They Made It Big: Its multimedia content, including podcasts and video series, helped it grow quickly and become a key player in the digital media landscape.
9. Business Insider
Started: 2007
Estimated Worth: $500 million+
Monthly Traffic: ~120 million visits
Henry Blodget founded Business Insider in 2007, and it rapidly became a top destination for business and financial news. By covering fast-moving markets, technology, and business culture, it became a leading source of business and financial news.
How They Made It Big: The site’s big break came in 2015 when Axel Springer acquired it for $450 million, cementing its place as a big player in digital news.
10. Boing Boing
Started: 2000 (as a blog, originally a zine)
Estimated Worth: $10 million
Monthly Traffic: ~5-6 million visits
Originally a print zine in the late 1980s, Boing Boing became a blog in 2000, covering topics like technology, culture, and the strange parts of the internet. It remains a favorite among internet culture enthusiasts.
How They Made It Big: Boing Boing transitioned into a blog in 2000, focusing on quirky tech, culture, and the bizarre corners of the internet. Its big break came during the 2000s tech boom, as it became a go-to source for alternative and tech-savvy readers.
11. ShoutMeLoud
Started: 2008
Estimated Worth: ~$3 million
Monthly Traffic: ~500,000-1 million visits
ShoutMeLoud was created by Harsh Agrawal in 2008 as a blog on blogging, SEO, and online marketing. It now offers a vast range of resources for digital entrepreneurs and has inspired countless people to start their own blogs.
How They Made It Big: The blog made it big in the early 2010s as blogging grew as a career, helping many aspiring bloggers learn to monetize their content through affiliate marketing and ads.
12. Copyblogger
Started: 2006
Estimated Worth: ~$5-10 million
Monthly Traffic: ~1-2 million visits
Brian Clark launched Copyblogger in 2006 to teach writers how to create persuasive copy that converts. It became one of the most influential blogs in the marketing world and eventually expanded into a full-fledged company offering courses, software, and other tools for content creators.
How They Made It Big: Its focus on content marketing strategies quickly resonated with digital marketers. By the late 2000s, Copyblogger had built a strong reputation, forming a full-fledged content marketing company.
13. Smashing Magazine
Started: 2006
Estimated Worth: ~$5-10 million
Monthly Traffic: ~4-5 million visits
In 2016, Smashing Magazine began as a blog covering web design and development topics. It has since grown into a major online publication with books, conferences, and a large community of developers and designers, demonstrating the potential for niche, expert content.
How They Made It Big: Its detailed guides, tutorials, and design resources made it a must-read for developers and designers. It gained significant traction in the late 2000s, becoming a multi-faceted digital publication with books and conferences.
14. Pinch of Yum
Started: 2010
Estimated Worth: ~$4 million
Monthly Traffic: ~4-5 million visits
Lindsay and Bjork Ostrom launched Pinch of Yum in 2010 as a food blog featuring recipes and food photography. It grew into a successful business that now provides resources for other food bloggers, showing how a passion for food can turn into a full-fledged career.
How They Made It Big: It combined high-quality food photography, engaging recipes, and personal storytelling. By the mid-2010s, their blog had grown into a thriving business, providing resources for other food bloggers and attracting millions of visitors.
15. NerdWallet
Started: 2009
Estimated Worth: ~$500 million+
Monthly Traffic: ~20-25 million visits
NerdWallet was started in 2009 by Tim Chen as a simple blog to help consumers make better financial decisions. It evolved into a leading personal finance platform with detailed guides on credit cards, mortgages, and loans, showing how creating helpful content can lead to incredible growth.
How They Made It Big: It made its big break by providing in-depth guides and comparison tools for personal finance products. By the mid-2010s, it had rapidly grown into one of the most trusted names in personal finance. The company’s 2021 IPO further solidified its success.
The Takeaway: Blogs Can Turn into Big Businesses
As I wrap up, I would like to note that the traffic and valuation figures above were obtained from various online sources such as Semrush and Google. As such, we cannot confirm the exact figures or complete accuracy. Please take the information with a grain of salt. The purpose of this post is to convey that blogging success is very possible.
These success stories prove that blogs are not just hobbies—they can evolve into influential media companies with millions of readers and substantial financial value. Whether it’s tech, celebrity gossip, or life hacks, there’s room for growth in any niche. With dedication, great content, and a focus on building a loyal audience, your blog could be the next big thing.
So, what’s stopping you from starting your blog today? These successful sites show that even the smallest ideas can become massive successes with the right passion and persistence. Bloggers today can follow in the footsteps of these digital pioneers and create something impactful. If they can do it, you can do it too!
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