Josh Richards: TikTok Star, Entrepreneur, and Podcast Host

Josh Richards is one of the faces that people think of when they think of the early TikTok explosion. He quickly gained fame through short-form videos, creator houses, and non-stop online fame, and then leveraged that fame to transition into the business world. For many of his fans, he was part of the wave that brought TikTok celebrities into the mainstream, with huge followings and actual leverage.

What is interesting about Josh Richards, however, is that he quickly sought to leverage fame into ownership. While many influencers were content to simply cash in on brand partnerships and trends, he spoke publicly about building a long-term career, learning the business side of things, and investing in ideas that resonated with Generation Z.

As of 2026, Richards is recognized for blending entertainment with entrepreneurship in a fairly intentional way. He has launched a popular podcast, acted in film ventures, and led roles in a production company and a venture fund, all while maintaining an active presence on social media. His experience is more about what happens after the views roll in, when you try to create something that will last.

Quick Bio

Who Is Josh Richards?

Josh Richards is a Canadian artist who became well-known for making short videos, mostly on TikTok. He has made funny and lip-sync videos, short skits, and daily updates in his videos. He has built up a large enough fan base that he is now well-known outside of YouTube.

Eventually, he gained recognition for taking on larger projects than simply posting content. He branched out into managing other creators, producing media, and investing in order to be involved in the creation and distribution of content, rather than simply being the face of it.

Early Life

Josh Richards was born in Toronto but grew up in Cobourg, a smaller town in Ontario. Richards has talked about how he grew up in a non-celebrity environment, so the transition to international fame was sudden when it occurred.

Public biographies also report that he left high school early and moved to Los Angeles to pursue opportunities in entertainment and social media. While this was a high-risk move, it put him right at the heart of the creator scene at a pivotal point in online culture.

Career Beginnings

Prior to TikTok’s huge popularity, Richards tried making short videos on sites like Musical.ly. He learned by regularly posting material, working with other people, and seeing what worked well through shared content. TikTok became very famous very quickly, and his videos worked well on the app. He quickly built up a large following by posting regularly and working with other creators.

This led him to the Los Angeles creator community, including the Sway House era, which introduced him to new fans through collaborative content. During this time, he also began to establish his entrepreneurial persona, including the founding of the talent and management firm TalentX, a strategy role at Triller, and eventually the founding of CrossCheck Studios, a production company designed to develop and produce content led by creators.

What Is Josh Richards Up To Now?

In the past few years, Richards has been able to maintain his work as a creator and his role as an executive. He has been labeled as a CEO and founder/leader at CrossCheck Studios, and he is still active in public life as someone who is working on the “behind the camera” side of entertainment, not just the posting side. He is also connected to Animal Capital, a venture fund that he helped to develop and promote.

He is also very well-known for his role as a co-host of the Barstool BFFs podcast, which went on for several years and officially ended in October 2025. Since then, he has continued to do interviews and appearances related to media and creator culture. Richards keeps most of his romantic life out of the public eye today, but his past relationships and breakups have been covered in public discourse, including his breakup with Nessa Barrett, which he confirmed on the podcast.

Josh Richards’s Physical Appearance

Richards is usually considered to be tall with a lean and athletic physique. Industry standards usually list his height at 5’11” (1.80 m).These days, he wears hoodies, jackets, clean shoes, and simple colors in a style that is casual and streetwear-inspired.

He keeps a clean image and isn’t too flashy, which fits with Richards’s “creator-next-door” image that he used to connect with younger people.

Net Worth

Sponsor rates, personal investments, and equity shares may not be available for public viewing, which means that it could be difficult to determine the amount of money an influencer is making. This is further evidence that Richards has created a variety of ways for people to make money that aren’t limited to one website.

For instance, Forbes reported that he earned about $5 million in 2021, mostly from business and advertising. At that time, he was among the highest-paid TikTok influencers. Apart from earning money, he has also attempted to derive long-term benefits from ownership, such as business and investments.

Social Media

People who follow Richards on TikTok can see that he has about 25 million fans and that his videos have been liked billions of times. About six million people follow him on Instagram, and most of the time, his account is full of pictures and posts about his work.
People are interested in hearing about his personal life, funny stories, and work. Instagram is what people use to get better photos and videos. On the other hand, TikTok is better for quick news and trends. With over a million fans, he creates more in-depth videos and podcast-style content on YouTube.

Future Prospects and Vision

Josh Richards has made it clear that he wants to be more than just a short-form celebrity. He is trying to build a career that will last even if the platforms he uses don’t. This is clear from his moves into production and investment.

In the future, his future may very well rely on how well his investments and productions do. If CrossCheck Studios is able to expand its output, he may find himself spending even more time producing and building teams. However, he also has the benefit of his audience, which allows him to test ideas in public, identify trends early, and draw attention to projects much more quickly than most executives.