Which creator received YouTube's first Custom Creator Award?

PewDiePie received YouTube’s first Custom Creator Award. The Swedish creator, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, received the ruby-colored trophy in December 2016 after his channel became the first to reach 50 million subscribers.

The award was custom-made rather than a standard Silver, Gold, or Diamond Play Button. PewDiePie’s version was shaped around his channel branding and became widely known as the Ruby Play Button or Ruby Creator Award. The nickname came from the trophy’s distinctive red appearance, not from YouTube’s formal name for the award.

A common mix-up is confusing this prize with the Red Diamond Creator Award, which recognizes 100 million subscribers. PewDiePie later became the first individual creator to receive that award as well, in 2019. T-Series also received a custom award after reaching 50 million subscribers, but it was not the first recipient.