In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, Twitter’s content monetization program has taken an unexpected turn, sparking debates about fairness and transparency. What was once envisioned as a structured revenue-sharing model for creators has increasingly begun to resemble a whimsical cash handout, seemingly determined by the whims of high-profile figures like Nikita Bier and Elon Musk.
The tipping point came in early October 2025, when a single tweet about Steve Jobs’ daughter, Eve, spiraled into a viral phenomenon, exposing the chaotic nature of Twitter’s payout system.
The Viral Tweet That Started It All
On October 2, 2025, a user known as @zoomyzoomm posted a photo of Eve Jobs, captioned simply, “Steve Jobs daughter btw”. The image, showcasing the young model’s striking resemblance to her late father, ignited a wildfire of engagement. The post garnered over 100 million views, spawning a thread of humorous comments like “the iPhone wasn’t his best creation,” as users riffed on the unexpected celebrity lineage. However, despite the astronomical reach, @zoomyzoomm’s earnings from this viral hit amounted to a mere $1,511 - a figure that left the creator visibly frustrated.
The $10,000 Bonus Mystery
Frustration turned into public outcry when @zoomyzoomm vented their disappointment in a follow-up tweet, questioning the paltry payout for such a massive audience. Remarkably, just two hours later, the creator received a $10,000 bonus from Twitter. This sudden windfall raised eyebrows and fueled speculation: was this a random act of generosity, or did it reflect a curated decision by Twitter’s leadership—perhaps influenced by the likes of Elon Musk, the platform’s owner, or Nikita Bier, a known viral app maestro?
The timing and scale of the bonus suggest a manual intervention rather than an automated payout based on impressions or engagement metrics. This incident has led many to wonder if Twitter’s monetization algorithm is less about data-driven fairness and more about rewarding content that catches the eye of its influential overseers.
A Growing Disparity Among Creators
The ripple effects of this event have left other “shitposters” - Twitter users who thrive on irreverent, meme-heavy content—scratching their heads. Many report earning mere pennies despite posts that racked up views in the tens of millions.
The disparity is stark: while @zoomyzoomm’s Eve Jobs thread netted a significant bonus after public complaint, others with comparable or even higher engagement are left with crumbs. This has fostered a perception that Twitter’s monetization program is less a meritocracy and more a lottery, with payouts hinging on whether your meme resonates with the right people at the top.
The Role of Nikita Bier and Elon Musk
Nikita Bier, celebrated for scaling apps like tbh and Gas to millions of users through organic virality, and Elon Musk, Twitter’s eccentric billionaire owner, loom large in this narrative. Bier’s expertise in leveraging niche audiences and creating viral loops aligns with the kind of content that thrives on Twitter - short, punchy, and shareable.
Meanwhile, Musk’s hands-on approach to the platform, including his push for monetization features like Twitter Blue, suggests he might personally influence which creators get a financial boost. The Eve Jobs post, with its blend of celebrity intrigue and humor, fits the mold of content that could appeal to both men’s sensibilities, raising questions about whether their preferences are shaping the platform’s rewards system.
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Implications for Twitter’s Creator Ecosystem
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This incident underscores a troubling trend: Twitter’s monetization program, which requires a Premium subscription and a connected Stripe account for payouts, seems to lack consistency.
While the platform’s ad revenue sharing and subscription models aim to reward engagement, the arbitrary nature of bonuses like the $10,000 payout suggests a system where personal favor or viral luck trumps structured incentives.
Creators are left guessing - should they tailor their content to appease Musk’s humor or Bier’s viral instincts, or is it all just a roll of the dice?
For now, the Eve Jobs tweet stands as a case study in Twitter’s unpredictable economy. With over 100 million views translating to a $1,511 base payout plus a $10,000 bonus, the math doesn’t add up to a sustainable model for most.
As the platform continues to evolve under Musk’s leadership, the community awaits clarity on whether this was a one-off anomaly or a sign of a monetization program increasingly driven by the subjective tastes of its power players.
In the meantime, aspiring meme lords might do well to study the Eve Jobs thread closely - because in today’s Twitter, it seems the path to profit might just run through the approval of Nikita Bier and Elon Musk.
