Ruby Franke Net Worth: How the Former YouTube Mom Built and Lost Her Online Empire

Ruby Franke net worth is something many people have wondered about. She became well-known as a YouTuber, sharing her life as a mother and giving parenting advice. Over the years, her videos gained many followers, and she built a large online audience.

So, let’s take a closer look at how she made her money and what led to her success.

Full NameRuby Franke
Date of Birth18 January 1982
Place of Birth Utah, United States
OccupationFormer YouTuber, TV Personality
Height5 feet 4 inches (162 cm)
SpouseKevin Franke (divorce)
Children2
Net Worth$1 million

What Ruby Franke Net Worth?

Ruby Franke is an American convicted child abuser, youtuber, and former family vlogger with an estimated net worth of $1 million. The majority of her earnings came from ad revenue, sponsorships, and brand partnerships. With millions of subscribers and billions of views, she made a steady income from YouTube’s monetization system.

On average, YouTubers can earn between $3 to $5 per 1,000 views. At the height of her fame, 8 Passengers was generating millions of views per month, bringing in an estimated $300,000 to $500,000 per year just from ad revenue. Additional income came from sponsorships with brands that targeted family-friendly audiences.

However, after a series of controversies and backlash from viewers, her channel was demonetized, and her revenue sources dried up. This drastic change had a major impact on her financial standing.

Early Life

Ruby Franke was born on January 18, 1982, in Utah, United States. She and her family are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Her three sisters and parents are also family vloggers. They spoke out against her actions. First, they made a joint statement. Later, they shared their thoughts in separate videos.

Career

In early 2015, Ruby Franke started a YouTube channel called 8 Passengers. On it, she showed her family life with her husband Kevin and their six kids in Utah. Ruby posted videos five days a week at 6:00 a.m. By June 2020, the channel had about 2.5 million subscribers and 1 billion views.

In 2020, people began worrying about Ruby’s discipline methods. Her 16-year-old son said he was banned from his room and had to sleep on a bean bag for seven months. Ruby also sent her 6-year-old daughter to school without lunch, thinking she was old enough to pack it herself.

When the school called, Ruby didn’t bring lunch for her. Ruby also used harsh punishments like sending a child to a wilderness camp and threatening a stuffed toy with beheading. Some viewers thought this was child abuse and started a petition. Ruby and Kevin defended their actions, saying the situations were misunderstood.

The 8 Passengers channel became less popular in 2021. In 2022, Ruby and Kevin separated, and he moved out. Ruby then worked as a mental health coach at ConneXions, a company led by counselor Jodi Hildebrandt.

Ruby and Jodi started a new YouTube channel called ConneXions and an Instagram account named Moms of Truth, offering parenting classes. Neighbors and Ruby’s oldest daughter, a college student, called the authorities to check on the younger children, as Ruby often left them alone at home.

Personal life

In November 2023, Kevin Franke filed for divorce after he and his wife had been living apart for over a year. Kevin then took legal action against Hildebrandt. He accused her of mistreating their children and destroying their family.

Arrested

On August 30, 2023, Franke and Hildebrandt were arrested in Ivins, Utah. They were charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse. This happened after Franke’s 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrandt’s house. He was very thin and had open wounds.

The boy asked for food and water at a neighbor’s house. Emergency workers found Franke’s 10-year-old daughter, also in bad shape. Both kids were taken to the hospital. The boy had serious injuries from being tied up with rope.

Police found signs that matched the boy’s injuries in the house. The Utah Division of Child and Family Services took the children into care. The boy later said his wounds had been treated with cayenne pepper and honey.

Franke and Hildebrandt were held without bail. Hildebrandt gave up her counselor’s license. After her arrest, Franke’s YouTube channels were removed, and she was banned.

On December 18, 2023, Franke admitted to four counts of aggravated child abuse. She later denied two other counts. She forced her son to work outside for weeks, which caused severe sunburns. She claimed her children were possessed. Franke agreed to serve her prison time one sentence after another.

Hildebrandt pleaded guilty to four felony counts of child abuse on December 27. Two charges were dropped in a plea deal. On February 20, 2024, Franke received four prison sentences, each lasting from one to fifteen years. She will serve at least four years. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will decide how much time she will serve.

Movies and Books

In 2024, Lifetime made a movie about Ruby Franke’s case called Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story. It was part of their “Ripped from the Headlines” series. Emilie Ullerup played Ruby Franke, and Heather Locklear played Jodi Hildebrandt. The movie got a lot of negative reactions.

Ruby’s eldest daughter, Shari Franke, was upset because she and her family were not contacted about the movie. She also said that none of the money from the movie would go to her younger siblings. Shari felt that the film would only hurt the victims more.

On January 7, 2025, Shari released a memoir called The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom. The book talks about her experience growing up as Ruby Franke’s daughter.

On February 27, 2025, Hulu released a docuseries titled Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke. The show dives deeper into Ruby Franke’s story and the events that led to her downfall.

Nishant Wagh

Nishant Wagh is a pop culture writer who focuses on celebrity net worth, entertainment careers, and media trends. With a passion for uncovering how stars build their empires, he delivers well-researched and reader-friendly content.

View all posts by Nishant Wagh

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