Haliey Welch’s net worth is estimated to be around $500,000 as of 2025. She is also known as Hawk Tuah Girl.
Her income, earned rapidly since her 2024 viral fame, is generated from brand sponsorships, merchandise sales, and media appearances. However, her financial path has been complicated by a major controversy involving a cryptocurrency promotion.
Welch successfully came from an anonymous factory worker in Tennessee to an online entrepreneur, using her authentic personality to build a revenue stream that outlasted her initial meme fame.
Net worth breakdown:
| Source | Est. Annual Income (USD) | Lifetime Contribution (USD) | Notes |
| Brand Collaborations | $150,000 | $250,000 | Includes lifestyle and viral consumer brands. |
| Social Media & Content | $100,000 | $150,000 | Monetization from YouTube ads, platform bonuses, and podcast revenue. |
| Merchandise Sales | $80,000 | $70,000} | Initial revenue surge of over $$65,000 from “Hawk Tuah Girl” products. |
| Appearances & Media | $50,000 | $30,000 | Paid gigs, conventions, and guest features (e.g., performing with Zach Bryan). |
| Controversy Impact (Negative) | — | (Significant unquantified loss in long-term brand value) | Impact of the $HAWK memecoin crash and legal scrutiny. |
| Total Estimated Net Worth (2025) | — | $500,000 | Combined across all revenue categories. |
The Viral Phrase That Started It All
Her fame began with the street interview where she jokingly responded with the now-famous phrase:
“Hawk Tuah!” This short phrase became one of the most viral memes of 2024.
Millions of viewers found the moment hilarious and unexpectedly charming. The clip spread across TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels at lightning speed, generating memes, remixes, and even celebrity reactions.
The authenticity of her response (humorous and unexpected) fueled rapid meme creation, countless remixes, and intense media attention. Overnight, Haliey Welch became an online sensation.
| Full name | Haliey Aliene Welch |
| Age | Born 2003 or 2004, age 21–22 (as of 2025) |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Content Creator, Influencer |
| Height | 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) |
| Education | High School Graduate |
| Residence | United States |
| Marital Status | Dating |
| Boyfriend | Kelby Blackwell (Plumber, known by nickname “Pookie”) |
| Children | None |
| Measurements | 34-26-36 in |
| Estimated Net Worth (2025) | $500,000 |
| Social Accounts | Instagram: @hay_welch (2.3M+ followers) TikTok: @hay_welch |
Key Sources of Income
Brand Collaborations – around $150,000 per year
Brand deals form one of Welch’s most reliable income streams. She partners with lifestyle, apparel, beverage, and youth-focused companies that benefit from her viral reputation. Sponsored posts typically earn $5,000–$20,000 depending on placement, audience reach, and promotion type.
Her value increased sharply after her meme became globally recognized, and brands seeking Gen-Z visibility frequently approach her for short-term campaigns. By participating in 10–15 paid collaborations a year, she earns roughly $150,000 annually.
Social Media and Content Earnings – around $100,000 per year
Welch receives monetization payouts through YouTube ads, platform bonuses, and sponsored integrations. Viral clips generate large waves of views, and consistent activity helps her maintain a stable fan base that engages with most of her posts.
She earns an estimated $8,000–$12,000 per month from a combination of:
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ad-share revenue
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sponsored content inserts
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live event invitations tied to her online activity
Together, these efforts add up to around $100,000 a year.
Merchandise and Product Sales – around $80,000 per year
Following her breakout, Welch launched “Hawk Tuah Girl” merchandise (shirts, hoodies, and novelty items) tied to her viral identity. Her first major merch drop generated over $65,000 in revenue within two weeks, delivering approximately $80,000 yearly in profitable sales.
Her first major merch drop reportedly generated over $65,000 in revenue within two weeks, a significant boost to her early earnings. With profit margins often close to 40%, ongoing merchandise sales deliver approximately $80,000 per year.
Event Appearances and Media Features – around $50,000 per year
Welch is often invited to attend festivals, podcast interviews, and social media conventions. She receives appearance fees ranging between $2,500 and $10,000 per booking based on attendance size and relevance.
Altogether, she likely earns around $50,000 per year from event participation. These openings also create new contacts leading to more profitable endorsements later.
The Career Journey: From Factory Floor to Viral Icon
Haliey Welch’s professional journey evolved quickly after her viral clip spread worldwide.
Her fame began with the spontaneous street interview where her humorous, unfiltered response—the now-famous “Hawk Tuah!” phrase, which turned her into a meme sensation overnight.
Overnight, she quit her job at a spring factory and a gas station to pursue content creation full-time.
She capitalized on this momentum by signing with bBuck Entertainment, a professional management team. It made her shift into full-time internet entrepreneurship.
She transitioned from “viral meme girl” to a legitimate influencer, securing appearances on major platforms like Barstool Sports and collaborating with musicians like Zach Bryan to demonstrate her broad appeal.
Her first podcast, Talk Tuah, launched in partnership with Jake Paul’s Betr Media in September 2024. However, her career accelerated in 2025 with steps into traditional entertainment:
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Acting Debut: In September 2025, Welch made her acting debut with a cameo in the new Hulu comedy series, Chad Powers, starring Glen Powell. The role played directly into her viral persona, which marked a significant transition toward mainstream media.
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High-Profile Appearances: She was featured on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! late-night show and has performed on stage with country music star Zach Bryan during his Nashville concert in June 2024.
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Docu-series Announcement: She announced that she will be the subject of an upcoming documentary titled DocTuah, which will provide a long-form view of her improbable rise from anonymity.
Financial Controversy: The $HAWK Crypto Scandal
The most significant financial and reputational event of Welch’s career was her involvement in promoting a controversial cryptocurrency in late 2024.
Welch was reportedly paid over $120,000 to promote the $HAWK memecoin. Shortly after the launch, the coin’s value plummeted, leading to heavy losses for investors and widespread accusations of a “rug-pull” scam.
The fallout was severe: the high-profile controversy led to law enforcement interest, with FBI agents reportedly visiting her grandmother’s home in Tennessee. The scandal also ended her podcast deal with Betr Media.
Welch denied wrongdoing, claiming she was also a victim, and announced her intent to sue the coin’s developers.
Legal Clearance
In March 2025, her lawyer confirmed a major victory: the SEC closed its investigation into Welch without any findings or sanctions against her. Furthermore, Welch confirmed that the FBI cleared her after cooperating with their investigation.
Financial Fallout
Welch confirmed she was misled and that while she received a promotional fee, she “did not make a dime from the coin itself” as all the money was spent on crisis PR and legal defense, meaning she effectively “came out with nothing” from the controversy.
Personal Life and Brand Integrity
Welch’s background provides crucial context for her public image. She grew up in Belfast, Tennessee, and was raised by her paternal grandmother from infancy, whom she still lives with in Nashville. Her working-class history underpins her relatable brand.
Financially, Welch maintains strong integrity. She famously turned down a lucrative deal with Playboy and publicly stated she would “never” launch an OnlyFans account. It differentiates her monetization strategy from many other viral stars.
Haliey Welch is currently dating Kelby Blackwell, a plumber from her hometown whom she affectionately nicknames “Pookie.” She revealed his identity on her Talk Tuah podcast in November 2024.
She also said they made their long-standing, on-again/off-again three-year relationship official in October 2024. Despite her sudden fame, Blackwell, who prefers his small-town lifestyle, has expressed full support for her career.
Hailey Welch Now: Independent Content Creation
In 2025, Haliey Welch is focused on regaining trust and establishing independence following the crypto scandal.
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Podcast Independence: In April 2025, she and Betr Media mutually ended their partnership, and she immediately relaunched the Talk Tuah podcast under her own company, 16 Minutes.
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New Livestream Platform: She expanded her digital output by launching a Twitch stream, Talk Tuah LIVE, in September 2025 to demonstrate her commitment to direct, fan-based monetization over traditional media deals.
FAQs
What is Haliey Welch’s estimated net worth?
Haliey Welch’s net worth is estimated to be around $500,000 as of late 2025. Her wealth was built rapidly through her viral fame, high-value brand collaborations, and merchandise sales, though her earnings have been unstable due to controversy.
What is Haliey Welch’s main source of income?
Her primary income sources are brand collaborations, social media monetization (YouTube and Twitch), and media projects like her independent podcast, Talk Tuah. Her recent acting cameo in the Hulu series Chad Powers also contributed to her earnings.
Did the crypto controversy affect her net worth?
Yes, significantly. While she was paid over $120,000 for the initial promotion of the $HAWK coin, she publicly stated that all of that money was spent on legal fees and crisis PR after the coin crashed. She confirmed she “came out with nothing” financially from the incident.
How did Haliey Welch become famous?
She became famous in mid-2024 after a spontaneous street-interview clip went viral. Her unfiltered, humorous response—the phrase “Hawk Tuah!”, which finally turned her into a global meme and digital celebrity overnight.
Is her podcast still with Jake Paul’s company?
No. In April 2025, Haliey Welch and Jake Paul’s Betr Media mutually ended their partnership for the Talk Tuah podcast. She immediately relaunched the show independently under her own company, 16 Minutes
Does Haliey Welch have an OnlyFans account?
No. Haliey Welch has been firm about her boundaries, publicly stating she turned down a lucrative deal with Playboy and will not launch an OnlyFans account.
