Loann Kaji Ryan ToysReview: Bio, About & Net Worth

If you've got a young child and an internet connection, there's a pretty good chance you've at least heard of Ryan ToysReview. In a sea of competition, this toy review and unboxing channel on YouTube has managed to carve out quite a space for itself, no thanks in part to the star of the channel, 8-year-old Ryan Kaji. The precocious and engaging youngster has amassed millions of followers, billions of views, and a pretty impressive net worth, all stemming from his toy videos. As of 2019, Ryan was worth (wait for it) a staggering $26 million, all tied to his YouTube channel, sponsorships, and even his own line of toys and mystery boxes. But obviously he's not calling all the shots - after all, he's 8! So what's the story with his mom, Loann Kaji? Here's everything you wanted to know about Loann, the matriarch of the Ryan ToysReview empire.

Who is Loann Kaji?

Loann Kaji, as she's known now, was born Kieu-Loan Thi Nguyen in 1984. She grew up in Houston, Texas, the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants. Not much is known about her childhood, but we do know that she attended college at the University of Houston. In 2002 at the age of 18, Kaji was arrested for shoplifting at a JC Penney department store in Houston's Alameda mall. She was accused of stealing $93 worth of clothing from the store, and was facing 60 days in jail. But she ended up with a $150 fine and community service, in addition to six months of probation. That probably would have been the end of it, but Kaji violated probation and ended up serving 30 days in jail in 2003.

After she served her sentence, Kaji returned to school, this time at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. She had dreams of getting her degree and becoming a teacher.

When did Loann meet her husband and Ryan's dad?

Loann continued her studies at Texas Tech University, and it's there she met fellow student Shion Guan in 2009. Guan was enrolled in the university's civil engineering program, and left his native Japan in order to attend school on the US. Guan was a popular student, but by the end of 2009, he and Kaji spent nearly all their time together. Kaji graduated in 2010, with a degree in arts and sciences. Guan stayed in school to finish up his degree, but the couple remained together. Their son Ryan was born in 2011, and they married a year later in 2013. Kaji and Guan welcomed twin girls, Emma and Kate, in 2016.

What did Loann Kaji do before Ryan ToysReview?

After Ryan was born and Kaji and Guan got married, they settled into life Texas. Guan worked as a structural engineer, and Kaji was working as a chemistry teacher at a local high school. She was also certified to teach English as a second language.

Rumor has it that Kaji was the one who originally came up with the idea of starting a YouTube channel. She saw the potential to make money on the platform, and in 2015, Kaji and Guan created Ryan ToysReview, starring 3-year-old Ryan. It wasn't long before the channel was putting up some big numbers - by September 2016, it was one of the most popular channels on YouTube, and Loann had left her teaching career to manage the family's new business full-time.

What is Loann Kaji's net worth?

It's hard to say exactly what Kaji's personal net worth is. As Ryan's mom, and co-creator and manager of the channel and associated businesses, she obviously takes a cut of the money they make. Ryan's net worth is estimated to be around $26 million. Aside from the channel, which still puts out new content on a daily basis, the family also has an exclusive licensing deal with brand licensing company Pocket.watch. The company makes deals with brands on behalf of the family, and markets Ryan's merchandise. And the family has created quite a bit of merchandise! There are Ryan's World toys, Ryan's World clothes, Ryan's World oral care products. There are even Ryan's World mandarin oranges.

In addition to the merchandising, Kaji and her family have started making a name for themselves in the entertainment industry, outside of YouTube. There's a magazine called "Ryan's World Ultimate Guide", and even a TV show called Ryan's Mystery Playdate on Nick Jr. In 2019, a video game called "Race with Ryan" was released for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox consoles. It definitely sounds like Loann Kaji has big things planned for her family's business!