Swedish gamer "PewDiePie" tops Forbes' list of the highest-paid YouTube stars, having raked in an estimated US$15 million for 12 months ending June 2016.

With nearly 50 million subscribers, 26-year-old Felix Kjellberg handily tops the list which also includes a rapper, prankster, "nerdy baker" and more gamers.

It's the second year that PewDiePie has topped the ranking. Last year, the Swede is estimated to have earned US$12 million.

For the list, Forbes did not account for management fees and taxes. Figures are based on Nielsen data, IMDB, interviews with agents, managers, lawyers, industry insiders and the stars.

Here are the top paid YouTube vloggers of 2016 in US dollars:

1. PewDiePie $15 million

2. Roman Atwood $8 million

3. Lilly Singh $7.5 million

4. Smosh $7 million

5. Rosanna Pansino $6 million

5. Tyler Oakley $6 million

7. Markiplier $5.5 million

7. German Garmendia $5.5 million

9. Rhett and Link $5 million

9. Colleen Ballinger $5 million