How Much Money Does the Creator of Flappy Bird Make?
Flappy Bird, a mobile game developed by Dong Nguyen, a Vietnamese game developer, became an overnight sensation in 2013. The game’s simplicity and addictive nature made it a global phenomenon, with millions of downloads and a significant amount of revenue. But how much money did the creator of Flappy Bird make?
The Game’s Success
Flappy Bird was released in May 2013 and quickly gained popularity worldwide. The game’s success was unprecedented, with millions of downloads within a few weeks of its release. The game’s simplicity, with its repetitive gameplay and challenging levels, made it extremely addictive, and players couldn’t get enough of it.
Revenue Streams
The game generated revenue through in-app advertisements, which were displayed between levels and between game sessions. The game also featured in-app purchases, allowing players to remove ads or buy virtual currency.
Revenue Figures
According to an interview with Nguyen, Flappy Bird generated $50,000 per day in in-app advertising revenue in its peak. This translates to $18.75 million per year. Additionally, Nguyen stated that the game generated $1 million per day in in-app purchase revenue, which is $365 million per year.
Tax Implications
As a Vietnamese citizen, Nguyen was subject to 20% tax on his income earned from Flappy Bird. This means he would have paid $3.75 million per year in taxes on the $18.75 million in in-app advertising revenue and $73 million per year in taxes on the $365 million in in-app purchase revenue.
Net Income
After deducting taxes, Nguyen’s net income from Flappy Bird would have been $15 million per year from in-app advertising revenue and $292 million per year from in-app purchase revenue.
Deletion of the Game
In February 2014, Nguyen deleted Flappy Bird from app stores, citing concerns about the game’s addictive nature and the potential negative impact it could have on players. The game’s removal resulted in a significant loss of revenue for Nguyen, as well as a loss of public interest in the game.
Aftermath
After the game’s removal, Nguyen stated that he earned $45,000 per day from the game’s downloads and in-app purchases, which translates to $16.25 million per year. However, this figure is significantly lower than the revenue generated during the game’s peak.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the creator of Flappy Bird, Dong Nguyen, earned a significant amount of money from the game during its peak. The game’s in-app advertising revenue generated $18.75 million per year, while its in-app purchase revenue generated $365 million per year. After deducting taxes, Nguyen’s net income from the game would have been $15 million per year from in-app advertising revenue and $292 million per year from in-app purchase revenue.