David Dobrik is a 28-year-old Slovak-American YouTuber and entrepreneur who returned to vlogging in January 2025 after a three-year hiatus, showcasing a dramatic body transformation that reduced his body fat from 27.8% to 13.1% and gained 10.5 pounds of muscle. The creator leads the Vlog Squad ensemble and has accumulated over 19 million subscribers and 7.1 billion views across his channels.
Who Is David Dobrik?
David Dobrik is a Slovak-American internet personality and vlogger who built his following on Vine before launching his YouTube channel in 2015. Born on July 23, 1996, in Košice, Slovakia, he moved to Vernon Hills, Illinois with his family when he was six years old.
As a Slovak citizen who arrived in the United States as a child, Dobrik was protected from deportation under DACA. However, in September 2021, he revealed he had obtained his green card and could now travel outside the United States.
At 28 years old and standing approximately 5’10” tall, Dobrik transformed from a Vine star into one of YouTube’s most recognized faces. He has a net worth of $25 million and is one of the most popular and highest-paid social media personalities in the world.
The 2025 Comeback: Breaking a Three-Year Silence
David Dobrik ended a vlogging hiatus that lasted nearly three years when he posted his first YouTube vlog in January 2025. The return wasn’t just about content—it was about redemption and transformation.
The popular vlogger released a video on January 7, 2025, his first post in nearly three years, which detailed his year-long fitness transformation. MrBeast challenged Dobrik to reshape his body through a year of physical training, and the mop-haired former “it boy” actually pulled it off.
The video featured appearances from celebrities including Josh Peck and MrBeast himself. Dobrik traveled the world alongside pals like Ilya Fedorovich and Natalie Noel while documenting his transformation journey.
The Dramatic Body Transformation
According to Dobrik’s YouTube video, he lowered his body fat from 27.8 percent to 13.1 percent and gained 10.5 pounds of muscle in the process. The transformation left viewers stunned, with many barely recognizing the YouTuber.
Dobrik credited his success to his support system, particularly Ilya Fedorovich who served as his fitness coach. In an Instagram post, he expressed gratitude: “I couldn’t be more grateful for the people around me that pushed me this year to be a better version of myself. I owe everything to all my friends and especially Ilya who has literally changed my life.”
The physical change marked more than just aesthetic improvement—it symbolized a complete life overhaul following years of controversy and public scrutiny.
Early Career: From Vine to YouTube Stardom
In 2013, Dobrik uploaded his first video onto Vine, collaborating with other popular Viners such as Liza Koshy, Gabbie Hanna, Jason Nash, and Zane & Heath. Before starting his own YouTube channel, Dobrik was part of the YouTube group Second Class.
Dobrik launched his self-titled YouTube channel in 2015. His videos featured a unique format: 4-minute-and-20-second vlogs packed with pranks, celebrity cameos, and generous giveaways. In December 2018, Dobrik was given a Diamond Play Button by YouTube in recognition of his YouTube channel surpassing 10 million subscribers.
In August 2016, Dobrik created his second channel, David Dobrik Too, where he posts blooper reels, challenge videos, and his more direct sponsorship deals.
His success was meteoric. The channel was the fifth-most viewed creator channel on YouTube in 2019, with 2.4 billion views that year. In April 2020, Dobrik was ranked, for the second time in a row, the most popular media personality among teenagers based on a survey by Piper Jaffray & Co.
The Vlog Squad Phenomenon
The Vlog Squad became synonymous with Dobrik’s content. Dobrik is the leader of the YouTube ensemble The Vlog Squad, which features prominently in his vlogs and comprises rotating selections of his friend group.
Core members have included Jason Nash, Natalie Mariduena (his assistant and childhood friend), Heath Hussar, Zane Hijazi, Scotty Sire, Toddy Smith, Corinna Kopf, and others. The group’s chemistry and willingness to participate in outrageous stunts became their signature style.
Dobrik was known for his generosity within the group, buying members expensive cars including Teslas and Lamborghinis. This content strategy helped fuel his popularity, though it later raised questions about power dynamics within the group.
The Controversies That Changed Everything
Dobrik’s world went sour in the early 2020s when sexual assault allegations against Vlog Squad members caused him to lose his sponsorships, his ad revenue, and his position at the photo-oriented social media platform Dispo.
On March 16, 2021, Business Insider reported that during the filming of a 2018 vlog about group sex, a woman was allegedly raped during filming by then-Vlog Squad member Dom Zeglaitis while drunk and unable to consent. After the allegations, Dobrik lost numerous sponsors and fans, and also stepped down from his position at Dispo.
YouTube temporarily demonetized Dobrik’s and Zeglaitis’s channels over the incident, citing violations of its creator responsibility policy.
Additional controversies emerged. In April 2021, Vlog Squad member Jeff Wittek released a documentary explaining circumstances of an accident that happened in June 2020, when Wittek broke his skull and face, requiring major surgery during a video shoot for Dobrik’s comeback vlog.
Former Vlog Squad member Seth Francois uploaded a YouTube video outlining negative and racist situations he experienced whilst being part of the Vlog Squad.
Business Ventures Beyond YouTube
Doughbrik’s Pizza
In November 2022, Dobrik opened a pizza restaurant, Doughbrik’s Pizza, in Los Angeles. By the time Doughbrik’s sold its inaugural slice, the line of eager customers spilled over multiple blocks, snaking into the Hollywood Hills and disrupting traffic.
Located on the world-famous Sunset Strip of West Hollywood, Doughbrik’s Pizza offers dine-in via patio seating and pick-up options. The menu features Chicago-style pizzas with two crust options: The Doughy (thick focaccia style) and Tavern-style (thin-layer pie cut into squares).
In 2025, Dobrik expanded the brand into the snack space, partnering with Tastemaker Foods co-founders Adam Cohen and Jerry Bello to introduce “Wavers,” a new pizza snack line rolling out to Albertsons retail stores nationwide.
Other Ventures
In January 2020, Dobrik launched the mobile camera app Dispo, which surpassed a million downloads and briefly topped the list for most popular free apps on Apple’s App Store.
In October 2020, Dobrik launched his fragrance brand David’s Perfume with Flower Shop Perfumes Co.
He co-hosts the popular podcast “Views with David Dobrik & Jason Nash,” which debuted second on iTunes chart in the podcast section when it launched in May 2017.
Financial Success and Net Worth
David Dobrik has a net worth of $25 million. His income streams include:
- YouTube ad revenue (historically earning up to $275,000 monthly before policy changes)
- Brand sponsorships with companies like EA, Bumble, and SeatGeek
- His apparel line, Clickbait
- Doughbrik’s Pizza restaurant and snack line
- The Dispo app
- Podcast revenue
In 2020, David earned $16 million from his empire. Despite controversies reducing his income, his business diversification has maintained his wealth.
Personal Life and Relationships
Dobrik dated fellow YouTuber Liza Koshy from 2015 to 2018. Their relationship and subsequent breakup were heavily featured in their content, with their breakup video garnering over 60 million views.
In a 2019 vlog, David Dobrik married Lorraine Nash, Jason Nash’s mother, in Las Vegas. The marriage was part of an elaborate prank and they divorced after one month.
His assistant, Natalie Mariduena, is a childhood buddy who also took Dobrik to his first high school dance. While fans have long speculated about their relationship, neither has confirmed anything romantic.
Why David Dobrik Remains Relevant
Despite a turbulent few years, Dobrik’s January 2025 return demonstrated his enduring appeal. His ability to reinvent himself—both physically and professionally—shows resilience in an unforgiving digital landscape.
His content style influenced a generation of vloggers. The fast-paced editing, generous giveaways, and ensemble cast format became a template others tried to replicate. His willingness to spend money on content creation (whether gifting cars or funding elaborate stunts) set him apart from peers.
Dobrik was credited by The Verge for successfully integrating the podcast genre onto YouTube, which is an otherwise video-focused platform.
The Road Ahead
Now that Dobrik has broken his vlogging hiatus, his fans are eager to see what he’ll do next—will it take him another year to construct his next YouTube upload, or will he return to some semblance of scheduled programming?
His 2025 comeback suggests a more measured approach. The year-long transformation project shows patience and commitment to quality over quantity. Whether this signals a permanent shift in his content strategy remains to be seen.
What’s clear is that David Dobrik understands the need for evolution. The controversies forced a reckoning with his past behavior and content creation methods. His return represents not just a physical transformation but potentially a professional one as well.
FAQs
How old is David Dobrik in 2025?
David Dobrik is 28 years old. He was born on July 23, 1996, in Košice, Slovakia.
What is David Dobrik’s net worth?
David Dobrik has a net worth of $25 million, earned through his YouTube channels, business ventures, and brand partnerships.
Why did David Dobrik stop posting videos?
Dobrik stopped regularly posting after sexual assault allegations against Vlog Squad members surfaced in 2021, causing him to lose sponsorships and ad revenue. He took a three-year hiatus before returning in January 2025.
Is David Dobrik still friends with the Vlog Squad?
Some relationships remain intact while others have ended. Dobrik had a bitter falling out with former Vlog Squad member Jeff Wittek, who held Dobrik responsible for an eye injury he suffered during the filming of a video. His January 2025 comeback featured several original members including Natalie Noel and Ilya Fedorovich.
Where can I eat at Doughbrik’s Pizza?
Doughbrik’s Pizza is located at 8363 Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood, California. The restaurant is open late, serving customers until 3 AM on weekends.
Bottom Line: David Dobrik’s 2025 return marks a potential redemption arc for one of YouTube’s most controversial figures. His dramatic physical transformation and measured comeback suggest lessons learned from past mistakes. With 25 million combined followers across platforms and a $25 million net worth, Dobrik remains one of social media’s most influential—and polarizing—personalities.
