Back in 2018, when the Instagram feeds were flooded with videos of a nine-year-old girl flaunting stacks of cash around luxury cars. This was Lil Tay, and her content was equal parts shocking and mesmerizing.
Now, six years later, she’s making headlines again with claims of earning $1 million on OnlyFans in just three hours.
Here’s the complete story of who she really is, what happened during her mysterious disappearance, and whether her latest money claims hold up.
Lil Tay’s Background And Rise To Fame
Lil Tay’s legal name is Claire Eileen Qi Hope, though she goes by Tay Tian. She became an internet sensation at age nine through shocking Instagram videos.
Her content wasn’t just random chaos, she actually had serious music industry backing, working with Jake Paul and Diplo on her rap career in 2018. Then something unexpected happened.

She completely vanished from social media in late 2018. Behind the scenes, there was an intense family custody battle between her father, Chris Hop,e and her mother, Angela Tian.
According to TMZ, her parents were locked in a court battle for custody and full control over her life and career. This legal drama basically shut down her entire online presence for five years.
During this period, she also faced serious health challenges, including heart surgery in 2024 to remove a tumor.
Lil Tay Broke Bhad Bhabie’s Record to Make 1 Million on OF in Just 3 Hours
According to TMZ, Lil Tay pulled in $1,024,298.09 in her first 3 hours on the platform, appearing to beat Bhad Bhabie’s record-setting debut, which earned $1,030,703.43 in 6 hours.
Her strategy seemed straightforward: launch right after turning 18 and capitalize on her controversial past buzz while maximizing initial subscriber interest through strategic timing and social media promotion.
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Lil Tay 2023 Death Hoax Explained
In August 2023, a bizarre event brought Lil Tay back into the spotlight. Her Instagram account suddenly posted a statement claiming that both she and her brother Jason had died.
The whole situation felt suspicious from the beginning. The post claimed there was an “investigation” into their deaths, but provided incredibly vague details. For about 24 hours, the internet was in chaos trying to figure out what was really happening.
News outlets scrambled to verify the information. Then Lil Tay herself cleared everything up by posting a video explanation. Her Instagram account had been hacked by a third party, she revealed.
The death announcement was completely fabricated. She also used this opportunity to address ongoing confusion about her identity and clarify details about the hoax to her followers.
Lil Tay OnlyFans Launch And Earnings
According to Yahoo Entertainment, Lil Tay launched her subscription-based account on August 3, just five days after her 18th birthday. Her Instagram post revealed she made $511,003 from subscriptions, $486,558 from direct messages, and $26,736 in tips.

The timing wasn’t subtle, she was clearly ready to capitalize on her newfound legal adult status. These numbers, if accurate, would represent an incredible conversion rate from her existing fanbase.
What’s interesting is how she structured the revenue streams. The high amount from direct messages suggests she was actively engaging with subscribers right from launch, not just posting content and waiting.
Lil Tay Justification For Joining OnlyFans And Her Father’s Response
Lil Tay didn’t just launch her OnlyFans account without explanation. She tried to frame it as some kind of feminist empowerment move, mentioning being inspired by “sex-positive celebs like Sydney Sweeney and Sabrina Carpenter”.
She positioned herself as “moving women forward” and claimed she was being sex-positive. To her critics, she had a pretty direct message: “You can hate on me all you want”.
According to TMZ, her father Chris Hope, who’s an attorney, said his 18-year-old daughter is now an adult “and can make her own decisions.” He added, “I am sure she is going to be successful in whatever she decides to do”.
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Lily Tay’s OnlyFans Verification Status
Here’s where things get tricky with Lil Tay’s claims. Unlike Bhad Bhabie’s record, which was officially confirmed by OnlyFans, Lil Tay’s earnings are only supported by screenshots she posted herself. There’s been no official verification from the platform.
Creator | Timeframe | Amount | Verification |
---|---|---|---|
Bhad Bhabie | 6 hours | $1,030,703 | Platform confirmed |
Lil Tay | 3 hours | $1,024,298 | Self-reported only |
This is a pretty significant difference. When Bhad Bhabie made her record, OnlyFans representatives officially confirmed to TheWrap that she did pass $1 million in her first six hours on the platform.
With Lil Tay, we only have her word and some screenshots. Screenshots can be easily manipulated, and OnlyFans doesn’t typically disclose creator earnings unless there’s a specific reason to do so.

Industry experts have pointed out that such rapid earnings would require an enormous number of simultaneous subscribers and a very high conversion rate from her existing social media following.
The lack of third-party verification doesn’t automatically mean she’s lying, but it does mean we should be skeptical about taking these numbers at face value.
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Conclusion: Lil Tay Made A Record-breaking $1M In Just 3 Hours On OnlyFans
Lil Tay’s OnlyFans launch marks a calculated comeback after years of legal battles, health issues, and family drama. Whether her million-dollar claims are accurate or not, she’s successfully returned to the internet spotlight.
Her story demonstrates how modern internet fame operates, controversy generates attention, attention creates revenue opportunities, and the cycle continues endlessly.
The real question isn’t her exact earnings figure, but whether she’s found sustainable monetization for the chaos that’s followed her since childhood. Her transition shows how quickly former child stars can pivot to adult platforms.
FAQs
Bhad Bhabie officially holds the verified record with over $1 million earned in six hours, though Lil Tay claims to have beaten this.
She generates income through OnlyFans subscriptions, direct messages, tips, and her previous music collaborations with industry figures.
Belle Delphine and other top creators have reported multi-million earnings, though exact figures for $40 million aren’t publicly verified.
She became viral at age 9 for Instagram videos featuring luxury cars, cash displays, and explicit language that shocked audiences.
This refers to rapper Tay Money, who’s different from Lil Tay and gained fame through her music career and social media presence.
She has mixed heritage – her mother Angela Tian is Chinese-Canadian, while her father Chris Hope appears to be Caucasian.