Sam Golbach is an American YouTuber and social media personality best known as one half of the paranormal-exploration duo Sam and Colby alongside Colby Brock.
He and Colby built their following on Vine in 2014 before shifting to YouTube, where their channel has grown to over 16 million subscribers.
Who is Sam Golbach?
Sam Golbach, born Samuel John Golbach, is an American YouTuber, content creator, and entrepreneur who rose to prominence as one half of the YouTube duo Sam and Colby.
Together with his longtime friend Colby Brock, he produces paranormal investigation series, haunted location explorations, and adventure content that draws tens of millions of views.
Beyond his work on the joint channel, Sam runs his own self-titled YouTube channel and co-founded the XPLR clothing brand.
The duo’s content evolved from short Vine clips to multi-part YouTube series and full theatrical films.
Sam is widely recognized by fans for his blonde hair, sharp humor, and willingness to explore some of the world’s most notoriously haunted locations.
Early Life of Sam Golbach
Sam Golbach was born on November 27, 1996, in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up in Overland Park, Kansas. His parents are Kirk Golbach, a businessman, and Cindy Golbach, a homemaker.
He is the middle child in the family. His older sister is Allison Golbach, and his younger brother is Ben Golbach. The family raised him in a Christian household.
From a young age, Sam showed an interest in sports, creativity, and online content. His desire to become an internet personality took shape in his high school years.
Sam Golbach Age / Birthday
Sam Golbach is 29 years old as of 2026, born on November 27, 1996. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius, a sign often linked with adventure-seeking and a love of exploring new territory.
That spirit comes through directly in the style of content he creates.
Sam Golbach Ethnicity and Nationality
Sam Golbach holds American nationality, having been born and raised in Kansas, United States. He is of white ethnic background.
His family has roots in the American Midwest, and he grew up in a Christian household in Overland Park, Kansas.
Sam Golbach Education
Sam attended Blue Valley High School in Stanley, Kansas, where he met Colby Brock during summer band camp.
That meeting became the starting point for one of the most recognizable partnerships in YouTube history.
After graduating from Blue Valley High School, he enrolled at a local private university in Kansas.
He left higher education to pursue his content career full-time following the rapid growth of his and Colby’s online presence.
Sam Golbach Career
Sam Golbach’s career in content creation began while he was still a teenager. His natural partnership with Colby Brock proved to be the foundation for a multi-platform career spanning more than a decade.
Vine and the Sam and Colby Launch (2014–2017)
In January 2014, Sam and Colby began posting short comedic videos on Vine while still in high school.
Their funny, fast-paced content quickly attracted followers, and by the time Vine shut down in early 2017, the pair had accumulated over 1.6 million followers on the platform.
During this period, they also began streaming live on YouNow, where they built direct relationships with their growing audience.
Their chemistry and spontaneous humor stood out in an increasingly crowded field of teenage creators.
That early Vine success gave them a ready-made audience when they transitioned to YouTube in October 2014, launching the Sam and Colby channel.
Their debut video appeared in November 2014.
Haunted Exploration and YouTube Breakthrough (2018–2020)
Sam and Colby’s content shifted dramatically from pranks toward paranormal investigation and haunted location exploration, and that transition proved to be the key to their biggest growth.
Series like “Stanley Hotel” (6 episodes, 20 million collective views) and “Witches Forest” (5 episodes, 15.6 million collective views) demonstrated the audience appeal of their new direction.
Their series “The Origin” trended at No. 2 on Twitter and No. 4 on YouTube within its first five hours, earning over 1 million views in that opening window.
In 2019, they also appeared in a Snapchat Original docuseries called “Stranded with Sam and Colby,” produced by Bunim/Murray Productions.
That year marked their biggest awards run. They won the Teen Choice Award for Choice YouTuber in 2019 and the 2019 Streamy Award in the Overall Action or Sci-Fi category.
They were also honored as the Breakout Creator at the 2019 Catalyst Content Awards Gala.
Films, XPLR, and Current Projects (2020–Present)
Sam and Colby expanded beyond YouTube with a 2020 book called “Paradise Island,” which chronicles a haunting experience on the island of Kauai.
The duo then moved into theatrical filmmaking, releasing “Sam and Colby: A Week at The Conjuring House” in 2023 and “Sam and Colby: The Legends of The Paranormal” in 2024.
Both Sam and Colby have maintained active solo channels alongside their joint channel.
Sam’s personal YouTube channel has grown to over 3 million subscribers, where he posts adventure content, paranormal stories, and personal vlogs.
The joint Sam and Colby channel has surpassed 16 million subscribers and accumulated more than 2.5 billion total views.
Sam Golbach Channel Stats and Achievements
The Sam and Colby channel stands as one of the top paranormal and exploration channels on YouTube, with over 16 million subscribers and 2.5 billion views.
Sam’s personal channel has crossed 3 million subscribers independently.
Their 2019 awards haul, including the Teen Choice Award for Choice YouTuber and the Streamy Award for Best Action or Sci-Fi Series, confirmed their status among the platform’s top creators.
The duo has been featured on Good Morning America for their mental health advocacy work.
Their series episodes regularly break a million views within days of release.
Sam Golbach Brand Deals and Collaborations
Sam co-founded XPLR, a lifestyle and clothing brand created with Colby Brock. The name stands for “explore,” and the brand reflects the spirit of their content.
XPLR partnered with Hot Topic for a limited capsule collection, and the brand’s products are stocked in Hot Topic and Zumiez nationwide.
In 2024, XPLR generated $13 million in combined online and retail sales.
Sam also released merchandise through Fanjoy and founded The Life Project, a subscription-based platform focused on helping young people develop positive life skills through videos, podcasts, and challenges.
The Life Project gained enough attention to be covered by outlets including the BBC and Huffington Post.
Sam Golbach Girlfriend
Sam Golbach confirmed his relationship with acrobat, contortionist, and fellow content creator Sofie Dossi in August 2025, when he made the relationship Instagram official.
Dossi, a former America’s Got Talent contestant, has over 10 million YouTube subscribers and 12 million TikTok followers.
The two first collaborated in a video earlier in 2025, during which Dossi asked Sam if he was “looking for girlfriend applications” while they filmed a rooftop stunt together.
Before Dossi, Sam dated pop singer Katrina Stuart from 2016 to 2023. He was briefly linked to actress Katelyn Dunkin in 2024, though that relationship ended the same year.
Sam Golbach Net Worth
Sam Golbach’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026. His income comes primarily from YouTube ad revenue across both his personal channel and the joint Sam and Colby channel, XPLR brand sales, film box office earnings, sponsorships, and The Life Project membership subscriptions.
XPLR Brand Revenue
XPLR is the most significant business venture in Sam’s portfolio. The brand generated $13 million in combined online and retail revenue in 2024.
Its products are sold through major chains including Hot Topic and Zumiez across the United States.
YouTube and Media Income
Sam’s personal YouTube channel earns an estimated $72,000 to $98,000 per year from ad revenue.
The joint Sam and Colby channel, with over 16 million subscribers and 2.5 billion views, adds considerably more.
According to an interview Sam and Colby gave in early 2025, their media business generated around $20 million in total revenue in 2024, which included merchandise, brand deals, and live events.
Overall, Sam’s total income flows from multiple streams, with XPLR brand sales and YouTube revenue being the two largest contributors.
Sam Golbach Social Media
Sam Golbach is active across all major social media platforms. On Instagram, he posts as @samgolbach, where he has over 2.8 million followers.
On YouTube, his personal channel @samgolbach has passed 3 million subscribers.
The joint Sam and Colby channel at @samandcolby carries over 16 million subscribers on YouTube, with a TikTok page of the same handle drawing 5.1 million followers.
Sam also posts on Twitter/X under the handle @samgolbach, where he has over 1.1 million followers.
Conclusion
Sam Golbach built a career that began with six-second Vine clips in a Kansas high school and grew into a $20 million media business spanning YouTube, theatrical films, and a nationally distributed clothing brand.
His partnership with Colby Brock has remained the constant thread through more than a decade of content, awards, and audience growth.