The creator economy has witnessed exponential growth in recent years, with platforms like OnlyFans emerging as pivotal spaces for the direct monetisation of content. However, this expansion has unveiled profound disparities in income distribution, sparking significant debates among creators and analysts alike. This analysis explores the income disparity on OnlyFans, examines the revenue-sharing model proposed by Nafty (now integrated into Sharesome), and evaluates its potential application, considering benefits, challenges, and future prospects, with data updated to July 2025.
Income Inequality on OnlyFans: An Uneven Landscape
Founded in 2016, OnlyFans has reached a valuation of approximately £14 billion in 2025, generating over £5.2 billion in gross revenue in 2023, according to Statista Yet, the distribution of these earnings is starkly uneven. Recent studies, such as those from Foxy AI, reveal that the top 10% of creators capture 73% of total revenue, while the top 0.1% claim 76%, with average monthly earnings of £115,000 [Morningstar]. This mirrors the Pareto Principle, where, as noted in the @Onlyfansly1 X post, the top 20% of creators earn 80% of the income, leaving the majority with average earnings of £120-£140 per month [Social-rise.com].
This inequality is further exacerbated by gender disparities. 2025 data indicates that female creators earn 78% more than their male counterparts, with 60% of female creators and 65% of male creators having fewer than 10 subscribers [Simplebeen.com]. Moreover, only 4.2% of subscribers pay, spending an average of £38 per creator, meaning most models earn just £1.60 per non-paying subscriber [Livemint]. This concentration of wealth poses ethical and economic challenges, particularly for lesser-known creators struggling to survive.
Revenue-Sharing Models: A Collaborative Approach
Revenue sharing is a business model where generated income is distributed among various stakeholders, such as partners, employees, or, in this instance, creators. Common in industries like music—where Spotify allocates earnings to artists based on streams—and affiliate marketing, this approach aims to align interests and foster collaboration. In the creator economy, revenue sharing could distribute a portion of platform earnings among creators based on criteria such as subscriber numbers, engagement, or content quality.
A notable example is the model proposed by Nafty, a Web3 project for adult content creators, acquired by Sharesome in 2022 [BCAMS Magazine]. Nafty suggested consolidating all pre-existing content under a single subscription, with earnings distributed among active creators who produce new content regularly. As detailed previously, Nafty offered an equal base portion to all creators, while providing a "bonus" to the most popular for adding value to the pool, potentially measured by metrics like subscriber counts or engagement. Although no specific data confirms Sharesome’s implementation of this model in 2025, the concept aligns with trends towards more collaborative digital economies.
Potential Benefits of Revenue Sharing on OnlyFans
Implementing a revenue-sharing model on OnlyFans could yield several advantages:
- **Reduction of Inequality**: Distributing a share of earnings among all active creators could narrow the gap between top earners and the rest, supporting those with lower incomes to remain on the platform.
- **Increased Motivation**: Lesser-known creators might feel encouraged to produce more content and engage more with their audience, knowing they have a stable income stream, potentially boosting creator retention.
- **Community Building**: This model could foster a sense of community, encouraging collaboration and support among creators rather than pure competition, in line with movements towards shared economies.
- **Attraction of New Creators**: A more equitable system could draw in new talent, increasing available content and potentially attracting more subscribers, benefiting the platform overall.
Challenges and Considerations: A Complex Path
Despite these benefits, introducing a revenue-sharing model on OnlyFans faces several hurdles:
- **Implementation Complexity**: Designing a fair and transparent system that accounts for varying levels of contribution and popularity is challenging. Determining how to measure "added value" (e.g., subscriber numbers, engagement) could lead to disputes, especially if creators perceive bias.
- **Resistance from Top Creators**: Leading creators, who currently dominate earnings, might oppose a model that redistributes their income, potentially defecting to competitors like Patreon or Fansly, which could erode the premium user base.
- **Subscriber Behaviour Impact**: Subscribers might resist a model that pools content, preferring direct access to their favourite creators without subsidising others, potentially reducing subscriptions and affecting total revenue.
- **Financial Implications for the Platform**: OnlyFans currently charges a 20% commission on creator earnings, retaining £1.13 from each average £5.65 subscription [SignHouse]. A revenue-sharing model might require restructuring this fee, impacting profitability, especially given that owner Leonid Radvinsky received £1 billion in dividends between 2020 and 2024 [The Guardian].
Future Prospects and Conclusion
Evidence suggests that the Nafty/Sharesome model, which consolidates old content and distributes earnings equitably with incentives for top performers, could offer a viable solution to address inequality on OnlyFans. However, its success hinges on transparent design, acceptance by leading creators, and subscriber response. As the creator economy evolves, platforms like OnlyFans must consider adopting or adapting revenue-sharing models to foster a more sustainable and equitable ecosystem, benefiting both creators and the platform.
This analysis, grounded in data up to July 2025, underscores the need for innovation in income distribution, aligning with global trends towards more collaborative and just economies.
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**Note**: All monetary values have been converted from USD to GBP using an approximate exchange rate of 1 USD = 0.79 GBP as of July 2025, for consistency with British English conventions.