Who is Scotty Kilmer?
Scotty Kilmer is an American DIY influencer who is active on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and other social platforms. He was born on 2nd October 1953 in Niagara Falls, New York. He is known for posting car-related advice on his social media.
Early life and education of Scotty Kilmer
Scotty grew up alongside his father and grandfather, who taught him all about cars when he was young. His grandfather worked at his father's gas stations as a car mechanic, and Scotty often visited them to learn something new. Once he finished high school, he enrolled at York University to study in an undergraduate program. Even though he loved spending time around cars, Scotty found himself enjoying his classes and studies. Once he graduated from York University, he applied to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for a master's program. His field of interest was anthropology, in which he eventually obtained a master's degree.
Does Scotty Kilmer have a PhD?
Since Scotty enjoyed his studies, he saw no reason not to try obtaining a PhD title. His professors gladly accepted his application to the doctor's program, working with Scotty as with any other colleague. Unfortunately, not everyone at the University was so welcoming, especially those responsible for the whole doctor's program. Scotty grew dissatisfied with the school's tenure system, and since no one tried to repair it, he dropped out without ever completing his PhD. Right after he made his decision, Scotty moved to Houston, where he found a job as a mechanic. Once he started the job, he forgot about everything else. Scotty found out that he missed being near cars, and he really enjoyed the possibility of getting to work.
Everyone's Guide to Buying a Used Car and Car Maintenance
His wife, Leslie Kilmer, saw how Scotty enjoyed giving people advice on cars, so she suggested that he writes a book about it. Scotty decided to give it a try, and this decision changed his life. After some more work, Scott finally published a book called Everyone's Guide to Buying a Used Car and Car Maintenance in 1994. Even though it was a long shot, it paid out. Scotty's book became a hit, selling copies around the whole United States. With this much attention around it, it naturally attracted journalists asking about Scotty's life. One of the journalists worked for the Houston Chronicle and decided to put Scotty on the front page. Once his face appeared on the front page of a magazine this big, Scotty's name became so popular that it attracted one TV station. Scotty was approached with an offer from KHOU, an affiliate of the local CBS.
Crank It Up with Scotty
The offer from KHOU station was simple: they offered Scotty to host his own show themed around cars. Scotty accepted the offer, and suddenly, the local car mechanic became a TV star overnight. Since he didn't want to leave his job as a mechanic, he kept serving clients with the addition of showing their cars on his show. Scotty's show was called Crank It Up with Scotty, and it aired every week on KHOU. As it turned out, Scotty was a natural entrepreneur, casually talking about cars in front of a camera as if he was at home. His show became very popular among the general public because of its easy tips and solutions, all presented by Scotty. Scotty's work was so good that the show earned a Regional Emmy Award for Outstanding Interactivity. Scotty won a second award by himself as a Best Interactive Car Talk Host. Considering all of his achievements, there's no surprise that Scotty didn't want to quit when the show came to an end.
Scotty Kilmer on YouTube
To continue teaching people, Scotty decided to create a self-titled YouTube channel in 2007. Since people knew him from the TV, it was way easier to create a big audience to talk to. Scotty's channel produces four different types of videos to satisfy as many people as possible. The first type presents car reviews, where Scotty usually shows his customer's cars and talks about them. He points out all the cons and pros, leaving his audience with a decision to make. Since his fans often send him car-related questions, Scotty's next video type is Q&A, answering as many questions as possible. The third type usually contains some type of document about a car-related topic which Scotty came across.
The fourth type of content Scotty presents Shorts, meaning DIY videos under 1 minute. Even though he is older than most YouTube influencers, Scotty keeps up with the times and regularly informs himself about new features. Lately, he figured out that his short videos could find an audience on TikTok, so he created an account. Apart from Shorts, Scotty's YouTube videos are often just as short, ensuring that fans won't get bored easily. His most popular video is 5 Things You Should Never Do in an Automatic Transmission Car, with over 20 million views. That video is only 4 minutes long but contains everything important. One thing that Scotty can promise his viewers is transparency and honesty. Even though it could earn him some extra cash, Scotty never ever makes sponsored content.
How much does Scotty Kilmer earn? Net Worth
As of 2023, Scotty's net worth is estimated to be over 10 million USD. Scotty owns the most popular car-related YouTube channel in the United States, with millions of subscribers. Besides his 50-year experience, Scotty profits from consistency. For the last 20 years, he has posted 2 videos every day, which makes his channel pop up more frequently.
Interesting facts about Scotty Kilmer
- As of 2023, he is 69 years old.
- His zodiac sign is Libra.
- He obtained his undergraduate degree from York University.
- He has a master's degree in Anthropology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
- He studied for a PhD but dropped out because of the school's management.
- He has over 50 years of experience as a car mechanic.
- He was a star of his own show called Crank It Up with Scotty, which aired on KHOU TV station.
- He owns the most popular car-related YouTube channel in the United States.
- He is proud to never post sponsored content, keeping his channel completely honest.
- He has over 5,5 million subscribers on his YouTube channel.
- His most popular video is 5 Things You Should Never Do in an Automatic Transmission Car, with over 20 million views.
- As of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be over 10 million USD.
