MasterClass was founded back in 2015 and continues to grow having found success catering to students with online classes around the world.
That means a growth in users, and with it, a growth in revenues, profits, and the company’s valuation.
The online learning platform produces presentations and video lectures from a range of individuals who are successful in their known fields featuring names that many have heard of.
That includes cooking experts like Gordon Ramsey, the actors Samuel L. Jackson and Natalie Portman, the film director Martin Scorsese, and the tennis player Serena Williams.
As with any business, there are expenses to be paid and that includes paying those well-known instructors.
These legends do not come and give their time up for free but are so well-known that their involvement alone draws in users and subscriptions.
In this guide, we will look at how much does
- Learn from the best!
- New classes added every month
- 180+ classes to choose from
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The Payments For Instructors
Perhaps the main reason for the success of
The instructors are typically celebrities and prospective users can seemingly learn so much from the very best in their respective fields.
While other platforms like Udemy can gather a roster of thousands of instructors,
Less is more when you can call upon the very best instructors for their expertise.
These instructors do come with a price and instructors are known to receive around $100,000 as an upfront payment.
Alongside this upfront payment, the instructors also earn up to 30% of royalty fees which can soon add up.
That may seem like a lot of money but when thousands of users are paying for subscriptions and one-off classes it does make sense.
Not many people can say that they have been taught by the likes of Gordon Ramsey, Martin Scorsese, and Serena Williams.
The Pay Scales At MasterClass
That $100,000 upfront payment can be considered as entry-level pay and has been known to be commanded by some Hollywood stars.
While the likes of Steve Martin, Shonda Rhimes, and Aaron Sorkin may not be considered truly A-list, their expertise is still valued by many.
That was back in the early days and as
For films, you can now enjoy an acting class from Samuel L. Jackson or Natalie Portman. Knowing that the actors have featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you can guarantee that the $100,000 upfront payment has gone up a few notches.
With more celebrities on board, the
Another Reason Why So Many Celebrities Appear On MasterClass
Performing an online class for users to learn from should pay well. Celebrities, movie stars, chefs, and sports stars do not give up their time for free.
Despite the financial reward, there is another reason why these celebrities are so willing to appear on the online learning platform.
That’s down to legacy and, much like writing a book, the chance to impart their knowledge to future generations.
Recording an online class may be seen as easier than trying to create a memorable speech at an awards ceremony, only to be cut off halfway through.
While celebrities may be given ample time in the written and televised press, their words may be edited out simply because of the pressing need to promote their next venture.
With an online class, celebrities are given ample time in front of the camera to delve into their own experiences and talk about what they see as valuable advice, at length.
Even the CEO of
Writing a book may only make sense to those that read it whereas a video is far more accessible.
Creating a lasting impression for future generations requires the celebrity to talk directly to the camera and create their own legacy.
Perhaps the main appeal for the instructors is the chance to have more control rather than knowing that an editing process is likely to limit the intent and underlying message of their words.
How MasterClass Has Become So Successful
In order to promote and sell enough of its $180 annual subscriptions to keep going, celebrities are enticed to share their expertise.
Gradually,
Though the payments for celebrities have likely increased, so has their pedigree which has seen
One of the reasons for this success and increasingly high valuation is how
Instead of many students taking a single class and then moving on, many take out a subscription and then find more classes they’d like to take.
This continual enticement for repeat custom keeps those subscriptions ticking over and word of mouth means that more students come on board.
Alongside those videos, students also receive interactive assignments, a class workbook, and community activities.
The marketing side of
By showcasing those that have reached the top of their field,
Knowledge is power and when you can call upon A-list celebrities then you can rightly claim to have reached the top.
That’s not just one video either as most of the classes have between 20 and 25 videos that amount to around two to five hours of top-class video content.
Mainly down to this business model,
The online learning platform is also versatile enough to be accessed on most web browsers, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and Android with iOS mobile applications.
As the story goes, the inspiration for
As a child, Rogier was repeatedly told by her that the one thing that people cannot take away is your education.
Considering that she had escaped Nazi Germany to become a pediatrician despite being rejected by over thirty medical schools, that’s some great inspirational advice.
David Rogier went away and for two years developed the website, filmed his own videos, and performed sales pitches before the financial backing arrived.
MasterClass only went live in 2015 and after four months had sold over 30,000 courses to students globally.
As well as popular classes being added to its library, more course content was added to supplement the videos.
There was a mass appeal to the classes as the ages of the students ranged from 8 to 104 demonstrating that age was no barrier to learning.
The company looks to be going from strength to strength and was valued at over $800m in May 2020.
That’s no small feat and after six rounds of venture capital funding, a total of $236.4m has been raised. That goes to show how good a prospect the business is for investors and how attractive it continues to be.
Final Thoughts
The success of
From the nous of CEO, David Rogier, to create a business that would attract so much investment to the stellar talents that impart their knowledge in their videos.
Though it was known that a $100,000 upfront payment was given to instructors, the prestige of those instructors has gone up.
While the likes of Aaron Sorkin and Steve Martin are well-known in the film world, the talent has increased since those early days.
Currently, students can enjoy an acting class from Samuel L. Jackson and Natalie Portman with Martin Scorsese showing how films are directed.
These celebrities are known for blockbuster movies so it should be expected that they are paid handsomely for their time.
Thankfully, the revenue for
- Learn from the best!
- New classes added every month
- 180+ classes to choose from
"Bored of TV, check out this Incredible content and cast"
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Anyone Teach An Online Class On Masterclass ?
Alas, not everyone can be offered the chance to teach an online class on the online learning platform known as
To be given the opportunity means reaching the top of your field, whether that be acting, cooking, sports, or business.
That’s why known celebrities tend to dominate the online learning platform’s offerings.
Once an individual does reach the top of their niche and makes a name for themselves then they may well appear on
Do You Receive A Certificate After Completing A Class With Masterclass ?
While celebrities receive six-figure sums of money, it does not appear that such vast expenses are currently spent on the users.
Currently, official certificates that come after a course’s completion are not being offered. However, users do get an email as confirmation that a course has been completed.
That email should also include a congratulatory message with tips on how to use
