From YouTube Star To Toy Mogul: 5 Shocking Facts About Blippi Creator Stevin John In 2025

The creator of Blippi, Stevin John, has successfully transitioned from being the sole face of the global children’s phenomenon to becoming a powerhouse content and toy industry mogul, making his story one of the most compelling business pivots in digital media today. As of late 2025, John's focus has shifted dramatically following the massive sale of his intellectual property, allowing him to launch a brand-new, multi-million dollar venture while the iconic orange-and-blue character continues to thrive under new management. This article dives into the latest, most current details of his life, career, and staggering financial success, revealing the full scope of his entrepreneurial journey.

Stevin John: The Full Biography and Profile

The man behind the brightly colored, energetic children's educator Blippi is Stevin John, a content creator whose background is far more complex and varied than his current persona suggests. His journey from a military man to a YouTube sensation is a modern entrepreneurial success story.

• Full Name: Stephen John Grossman (Legally changed to Stevin John)
• Alias: Blippi, Steezy Grossman (Former pre-Blippi alias)
• Date of Birth: May 27, 1988
• Age (as of 2025): 37 years old
• Place of Birth: Ellensburg, Washington, USA
• Early Career: Served two years in the United States Air Force as a loadmaster on a C-17 Globemaster aircraft.
• Inspiration for Blippi: The idea for Blippi was born in 2014 after John observed his then two-year-old nephew watching low-quality, uninspired videos on YouTube, prompting him to create better, more educational content.
• Current Net Worth Estimate (2025): Estimates vary, but his net worth is projected to be around $40 million to $90 million, significantly boosted by the sale of his company.
• Current Role: Original Creator and Chief Content Officer (CCO) of his new company, Born to Play.

The $120 Million Pivot: Selling Blippi to Moonbug Entertainment

The biggest financial and professional turning point for Stevin John was the sale of the Blippi brand. This transaction established him as a major player in the digital media landscape and paved the way for his next big move.

The character and the entire Blippi media property were sold to Moonbug Entertainment in a deal that was part of a larger acquisition. While the exact valuation for Blippi alone is often debated, John's deal was reported to be valued at an astronomical figure.

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The Moonbug Acquisition and Candle Media

Moonbug Entertainment, which also owns the highly popular children's brand CoComelon, acquired Blippi in a move to consolidate the world's largest digital kids' media company. This acquisition was a massive success for John, allowing him to cash out on his creation. Shortly after, Moonbug itself was acquired by Candle Media, a Blackstone-backed company, further cementing Blippi's position in the global entertainment ecosystem.

The result of this sale was a significant shift in John's role. While he remains the original face of the character and continues to produce content, the day-to-day management, licensing, consumer products, and expansion are now handled by Moonbug.

The Blippi Actor Transition: Introducing Clayton Grimm

The sale also led to the introduction of a second actor to portray Blippi, a necessity driven by the brand's immense global expansion, including live shows like Blippi The Musical and the creation of spin-off shows.

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The new actor who stepped into the orange suspenders is Clayton Grimm. Grimm initially took on the role for the live tour in 2019 and eventually began appearing in new video content alongside Stevin John, allowing the brand to scale without John being physically present for every production. This transition was met with some initial parental confusion but has allowed the Blippi educational content to expand across major streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Video.

Stevin John's New Venture: The Launch of 'Born to Play'

Far from retiring after the massive Moonbug payout, Stevin John has channeled his entrepreneurial energy into a brand-new, highly anticipated project in the children's space. In a move that highlights his shift from a performer to a full-fledged content and toy executive, he co-founded a new company.

In a major 2025 update, Stevin John announced the launch of a new toy company called Born to Play. This venture signifies his continued commitment to the children’s entertainment industry, but this time, focusing on the development and manufacturing side.

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John teamed up with toy industry veteran Daniel DeLapa, formerly the President of Creative Kids, to lead the new enterprise. DeLapa serves as the CEO, while John takes on the role of Chief Content Officer (CCO) and partner.

Focus on Original IP and Innovation

The mission of Born to Play is to build a community through products that inspire play, with a strong focus on creating original IP (Intellectual Property) and innovation. The company plans a multi-category launch, leveraging John's deep understanding of what resonates with young audiences and DeLapa's expertise in product development and distribution. This new chapter positions Stevin John not just as a creator, but as a major toy mogul and content founder in the competitive children's market.

The 'Harlem Shake' Controversy: Addressing the Past

No discussion of Stevin John's career is complete without addressing the pre-Blippi content that briefly threatened to derail his success. This controversy is a key part of his personal journey and the reason for the creation of the character Blippi as a clean slate.

Before Blippi, John created sketch comedy videos under the alias Steezy Grossman. The most infamous of these videos, which surfaced after Blippi's popularity soared, was a 2013 "Harlem Shake" parody. The video, titled "Harlem Shake Poop," showed John performing the dance while allegedly defecating on a naked friend.

When the video resurfaced, John immediately faced a massive backlash from parents. He swiftly issued an apology, expressing regret for the "crude and gross-out humor" he made in his early twenties. The video was quickly deleted, and John’s team took steps to try and suppress its spread using copyright laws, demonstrating the severity of the crisis.

Ultimately, John successfully navigated the controversy by focusing entirely on the Blippi character's positive, educational mission. His ability to move past the controversial content and build one of the world's most valuable children's brands is a testament to his marketing and content creation skills, allowing his success to overshadow his past persona.