YouTube royalty Pewdiepie has been outmatched by an eight-year-old boy after his dramatic announcement that he'd be taking a break from the video site.

Pewdiepie - real name Felix Kjellberg - landed seventh of this year's Forbes list of highest YouTube earners with eye-watering earnings of $13 million.

This comes after he told shocked fans that in 2020 he would be taking a break from the site.

He's also wiped his Twitter - also wildly popular - on all previous tweets.

The newly married sensation, who was once YouTube's highest earner, was trounced on the list by an eight year old boy - who earned twice as much.

(Image: Youtube)

This despite the fact that Pewdiepie has around 80 million more subscribers than Ryan Kaji, who made his name online name reviewing toys.

Starting at just three years old, Ryan has become a phenomenon and has since launched toys and clothes of his own, as well as landing TV deals with Nickolodeon and Hulu.

He raked in a staggering $26 million this year - more than any of the competition.

(Image: Youtube)

(Image: Twitter)

Ryan's also not the only kid in the top ten, as sitting at third with $18 million is five year old Russian-born Anastasia Radzinskaya.

Pewdiepie took to his famous PewNews segment recently to tell fans: "I am taking a break from YouTube next year.

"I wanted to say it in advance because I made up my mind.

(Image: YouTube)

"I'm tired. I'm feeling very tired. I don't know if you can tell. Just so you know, early next year I'll be away for a little while.

"I'll explain that later but I wanted to give a little heads up."

He's seen a number of severe controversies during his time on the site, including videos that have seen him branded a Nazi and an anti-semite.

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He also created a video in which he paid two people to hold up signs - reading "Death to all Jews."

It was followed by a public apology, but claimed that he was trying "to show just how stupid the website is and how far you can push it by paying $5".