How OnlyFans transformed porn
The platform, now up for sale, has made a smutty business far more lucrative
Since it was founded in 2016 by a well-heeled Briton, OnlyFans has grown into a giant of X-rated content. The platform, whose current owner, a secretive Ukrainian-American, is reportedly looking to sell it for $8bn, is used by over 4m “creators”, who post content, and over 300m “fans”, who pay for it. In its fiscal year to November 2023, the latest data available, it brought in revenue of $1.3bn. At around 50%, its operating margin was higher than those of tech giants such as Alphabet, Meta and Microsoft. OnlyFans has been an enormous financial success. It has also transformed how porn is made, shared and consumed online.
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This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “Getting paid”
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