Elon Musk's social media platform X has declared 2026 as "the year of the creator." The company is urging content creators to build their livelihoods on the platform. X made this announcement through a series of posts on January 17, 2026.
X Doubles Revenue Sharing for Creators
The platform revealed it closed the previous year with its highest payouts since the monetization program began. X now plans to expand this program significantly. It aims to empower creators to grow their presence and earn more money on the platform.
X has already rolled out several key initiatives this year. The company doubled its revenue sharing pool. This increase comes from growth in X Premium subscriptions during 2025. X stated it is only fair to share this success with creators. The expanded pool unlocks much higher payout potential for creators across the platform.
New Payout Calculations Based on Verified Views
X has updated how it calculates payouts for creators. Revenue sharing will now depend on "Verified Home Timeline" impressions. This means earnings will come from real views by Premium users who see posts in their home feed. The platform says this change rewards content that truly resonates with audiences.
Posts that consistently appear in timelines and spark discussion will earn more. X believes this approach better values impactful content. The company also announced a more detailed earnings dashboard is coming soon to Creator Studio.
$1 Million Prize for Top Long-Form Article
In a bold move, X promised $1 million for the top long-form article in the next payout period. The platform stressed its emphasis on longer format content. X wants to recognize high-value, high-impact content that shapes conversations, breaks news, and moves culture.
The series of posts called on creators, writers, journalists, and thought leaders to double down on this moment. X understands that some content formats require more effort and can have greater impact than others. Therefore, the platform may weight formats like articles more heavily than short-form content.
Eligibility Requirements for the $1 Million Prize
To qualify for the $1 million prize, creators must meet specific criteria:
- You must be a Premium X subscriber.
- The article must be original content.
- It must be at least 1,000 words long.
- The article will be judged primarily on Verified Home Timeline impressions.
- Only users in the United States are eligible.
- Content that violates platform policies, is hateful, fraudulent, or manipulative is not eligible.
What Stays the Same for X Creators
While introducing these changes, X confirmed some aspects remain unchanged:
- Views from users on higher Premium tiers continue to be worth more than those from lower tiers.
- The platform will continue taking robust measures to detect fraud and penalize inauthentic interactions.
Elon Musk's X is making a clear push to attract and retain top creators. The $1 million prize and expanded monetization represent significant investments in the creator economy. These changes could reshape how content creators approach the platform in 2026 and beyond.
