Matt Slays, whose real name is Matt Roy Yoakum, was born on July 17, 1980 in Pueblo, Colorado. He is an American YouTuber, musician, songwriter, record producer, cinematographer, and director.
He co-runs the Matt Slays YouTube channel with his wife Rebecca Zamolo, which has amassed over 8 million subscribers.
Who is Matt Slays?
Matt Slays is a content creator, musician, and digital personality known for his high-energy YouTube videos, music production, and creative collaborations.
He operates his channel alongside his wife, Rebecca Zamolo, producing family-friendly challenges, pranks, and vlogs.
His YouTube channel launched on April 15, 2015, and grew steadily into one of the more popular family entertainment channels on the platform.
Along with YouTube content, Matt works as a lyricist, songwriter, composer, and cinematographer. Matt signed with management firm Underscore Talent in October 2021.
He previously joined a boy band called Townsend in the San Francisco Bay Area as a teenager, giving him an early foundation in music performance and production.
That musical background eventually fed into his YouTube career and original music releases.
Early Life of Matt Slays
Matt Slays was born on July 17, 1980 in Pueblo, Colorado, USA. He grew up alongside siblings that included two brothers and a sister. His interest in music developed early, and he began performing as a teenager.
As a young man, he joined the boy band Townsend in the San Francisco Bay Area. The group focused on hip-hop-style music, and Matt participated as a pianist and lyricist.
Matt also appeared as a finalist on the ABC television show Making the Band, where he ranked among the top 25 contestants.
His childhood in Colorado and later experiences in the Bay Area music scene shaped his approach to both performing and producing music.
Matt Slays Age
Matt Slays is 45 years old as of 2026, born on July 17, 1980. His zodiac sign is Cancer.
In 2021, he and Rebecca Zamolo signed with Underscore Talent, one of their most significant career milestones as a couple in digital media.
Matt Slays Ethnicity and Nationality
Matt Slays holds American nationality, born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado. His ethnic background has not been publicly detailed in verified sources.
He grew up in Colorado before relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area and later settling in Los Angeles, where he and Rebecca now live.
Matt Slays Height and Weight
Matt Slays stands at approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, which equals around 1.75 meters. His weight is approximately 65 kg (143 lbs), as cited in multiple online profiles.
His physical presence on screen reflects his active lifestyle as a full-time content creator and performer.
Matt Slays Education
Matt Slays attended Western Oregon University from 2000 to 2004. While enrolled there, he pursued his interest in music and media.
In February 2003, he began working in the sales department at Hilton Hotels while still completing his degree, and he continued in that role for nearly six years.
He also attended Vanguard High School in Colorado Springs before going to university. Those years in Colorado Springs preceded his move to the Bay Area and eventually to Los Angeles.
Matt Slays Career
Matt Slays began his public career through music, competing on the ABC show Making the Band and later joining the boy band Townsend in San Francisco. Both experiences gave him hands-on performance and production knowledge.
After college, he spent nearly six years in sales at Hilton Hotels while continuing to develop his music skills on the side. That pivot toward content creation came gradually, not overnight.
Early Music and Directing Career
Before his YouTube breakthrough, Matt directed several short films and web series. His credits include directing and cinematography work on projects such as Shit LA People Say and Shit Fat Vs. Skinny Girls Say.
He also directed the Real Housewives of New Jersey Parody in 2013.
Those directorial projects demonstrated his range as a creative professional beyond just performance. He served as composer, editor, and cinematographer on several of those same productions.
Matt also worked as a cast member and sound technician for Disney World during his career before YouTube. He later conducted auditions connected to American Idol as well.
His debut song “Feels Like” released in 2019 surpassed 1 million views on YouTube, marking his first major solo music milestone on the platform.
YouTube Channel Growth
Matt launched his Matt Slays YouTube channel on April 15, 2015. Early content mixed music videos, vlogs, and comedy sketches.
The 2015 video “Michael Jackson Mashup (Love Never Felt So Good / Man in the Mirror),” produced with Joshua David Evans, brought him significant early attention.
He and Rebecca Zamolo together also built the Matt and Rebecca YouTube channel, which grew to over 10 million subscribers. That combined channel features challenges, mystery series, and the Game Master Network franchise.
In 2018, Rebecca launched the Game Master Network series, with Matt playing a central role. The series features escape room-style puzzles and a fictional “YouTube Hacker” antagonist.
Game Master Network and Recent Work
The Game Master Network franchise expanded beyond YouTube into books, apps, and merchandise. In October 2020, a mobile game based on the series launched for iOS and Android.
In December of that year, a subscription service launched through the app for $8 a month, offering exclusive content including behind-the-scenes clips and musical performances.
Matt and Rebecca published two books through HarperCollins: The Game Master: Summer Schooled (June 10, 2021) and The Game Master: Mansion Myst (March 1, 2022). Both books extended the Game Master franchise into print.
In October 2021, the couple signed with Underscore Talent. That management partnership supported further expansion of their brand and content operations.
Matt Slays Wife
Matt Slays married Rebecca Zamolo on May 17, 2014, after dating for approximately ten years. The two met during a music video shoot where Rebecca performed as a cheerleader. They got engaged on December 17, 2012.
Rebecca is an American gymnast, actress, YouTuber, writer, and producer. She is also known for her TikTok presence, with over 18 million followers as of 2024.
Together, they have built one of the more recognizable couples’ channels in the YouTube creator space.
Their personal YouTube journey has included public discussions of fertility challenges. In February 2021, they shared that Rebecca had suffered a chemical pregnancy and later a miscarriage during IVF treatment.
Matt Slays Children
Matt Slays and Rebecca welcomed their first child, daughter Zadie Hope, in February 2022. Her arrival followed the couple’s public discussion of their fertility journey, which included IVF treatment.
In February 2025, the couple announced they were expecting a second child via surrogacy. Their son Zander arrived on August 11, 2025.
Matt has featured his family in various YouTube content, though he and Rebecca have maintained boundaries around how much they share about their children’s private lives.
Matt Slays Net Worth
Matt Slays’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026. His income comes from YouTube ad revenue, brand sponsorships, music sales and streaming, the Game Master Network franchise, and merchandise.
He and Rebecca also co-published books through HarperCollins, adding a publishing revenue stream to their broader creative portfolio. Their management deal with Underscore Talent, signed in 2021, supports ongoing commercial partnerships.
His long career before YouTube, including nearly six years in hotel sales and several years as a director and cinematographer, provided financial stability as he transitioned to full-time content creation.
Matt Slays Social Media
Matt Slays is active across several platforms. His YouTube channel operates under the Matt Slays name and has accumulated over 8 million subscribers. He also co-manages the Matt and Rebecca channel with his wife, which has crossed 10 million subscribers.
On TikTok, he goes by @matt.slays and has built an audience of over 3 million followers there. He also maintains an Instagram account at @mattslayss, where he shares personal updates and promotional content.
He is also active on Twitter, connecting with fans and sharing updates about his content releases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Matt Slays’s net worth?
Matt Slays’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026. His income includes YouTube revenue, brand deals, book publishing, and the Game Master Network franchise.
How old is Matt Slays?
Matt Slays is 45 years old as of June 18, 2026, born on July 17, 1980 in Pueblo, Colorado.
Who is Matt Slays married to?
Matt Slays is married to Rebecca Zamolo, whom he wed on May 17, 2014, after dating for approximately ten years. She is a popular YouTuber, gymnast, actress, and producer.
What is Matt Slays famous for?
Matt Slays is famous for his YouTube channel launched in 2015, his role in the Game Master Network franchise with Rebecca Zamolo, and his work as a musician, lyricist, and music producer.
Where was Matt Slays born?
Matt Slays was born in Pueblo, Colorado, USA. He later lived in the San Francisco Bay Area before settling in Los Angeles, California.
What books has Matt Slays published?
Matt Slays and Rebecca Zamolo published two books through HarperCollins: The Game Master: Summer Schooled in June 2021 and The Game Master: Mansion Myst in March 2022.
The Bottom Line
Matt Slays launched his YouTube channel on April 15, 2015, and built it to over 8 million subscribers through a mix of music, challenges, and the Game Master Network series.
Together with Rebecca Zamolo, he also co-authored two books published by HarperCollins in 2021 and 2022.
Born in Pueblo, Colorado, Matt began his creative career as a teenage boy band member with Townsend in the Bay Area and later competed on ABC’s Making the Band.
That early foundation in performance and production informs his approach to content creation today.
He and Rebecca welcomed their daughter Zadie Hope in February 2022 and their son Zander in August 2025 via surrogacy, expanding their family alongside their growing digital career.
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