Austin McBroom

Austin McBroom is an American social media personality, YouTuber, and former college basketball player. He is best known as the co-creator and face of the ACE Family YouTube channel, which he launched with his then-wife Catherine Paiz in 2016. The channel, centered on daily family vlogs, grew to over 18 million subscribers and became one of the most prominent examples of the family vlogging genre on the platform. At its peak, the ACE Family earned millions of dollars annually from ad revenue and brand deals, landing a spot on Forbes' list of highest-paid YouTube creators in 2020.

McBroom's public persona shifted from a wholesome family man to a controversial figure amid legal disputes and a highly publicized divorce. In 2023, he entered the influencer boxing scene, fighting Bryce Hall in a pay-per-view event. As of 2026, McBroom maintains a presence on Instagram and YouTube, though the ACE Family channel posts infrequently. His story reflects the rise and fall of a digital media empire built on the appeal of a picture-perfect family.[edit]

McBroom was born on May 20, 1992, in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in the San Fernando Valley. He attended Campbell Hall School, a private college-preparatory school in Studio City, where he was a standout multi-sport athlete in basketball, football, and baseball. During his senior basketball season, he averaged 25 points per game and earned first-team All-CIF Division 3AA honors. He also played on the same high school state championship team as future NBA star Jrue Holiday. After high school, he committed to Saint Louis University's men's basketball program for the 2011-2012 season. As a guard for the Billikens, he led the team in 3-point shooting makes and percentage during the 2013-2014 season. After graduating in 2015, he pivoted to social media, initially posting videos on YouTube and Vine. His early content featured pranks, challenges, and glimpses of his relationship with Catherine Paiz, which laid the foundation for the ACE Family channel.[edit]

McBroom's breakthrough came in 2016 when he and Catherine Paiz launched the ACE Family YouTube channel. The channel's daily vlogs, featuring luxury purchases, family outings, and holiday celebrations, quickly attracted millions of subscribers. By 2017, the channel hit 1 million subscribers; it reached 10 million in 2018. The annual Christmas toy drives and AP Exams (ACE Family exams) became fan-favorite events, generating tens of millions of views. The commercial success was immense. At its peak, the ACE Family reportedly earned over $18 million annually from ad revenue, brand partnerships with companies like HelloFresh and Audible, and merchandise sales. In 2020, Forbes named the channel one of the highest-earning YouTube creators. In 2023, McBroom ventured into influencer boxing, fighting Bryce Hall in a match that drew significant pay-per-view buys. However, the channel's momentum stalled after McBroom and Paiz announced their divorce in January 2024, leading to sporadic posting and an uncertain future.[edit]

McBroom's public image is tied to the ACE Family brand, which projected an idealized, wealthy, and happy family lifestyle. Videos were bright, high-energy, and focused on luxury purchases and extravagant celebrations. Over time, media coverage shifted from celebrating their success to scrutinizing their controversies, including accusations of exploiting their children and misleading content. McBroom's social media voice often becomes defensive when addressing criticism or legal matters. Fans, known as the ACE Family fanbase, were loyal and protective, but the divorce fractured the community. His persona now reflects a more combative and private individual. The name "ACE" originally stood for "Austin & Catherine's Entertainment."[edit]

The community surrounding Austin McBroom has never operated under a singular, branded moniker like the "Beyhive" or "Swifties." Instead, his followers are collectively known as the "Ace Family," a designation that reflects their deep connection to the YouTube channel he co-founded rather than a specific devotion to him as an individual. This group functions less like a traditional fandom and more as a massive digital ecosystem, characterized by intense loyalty to the family unit and coordinated engagement across Instagram and TikTok. Their rituals revolve around the daily consumption of vlogs, reaction content to parenting decisions, and the collective defense of the couple against external scrutiny found in influencer snark communities. While the brand has historically featured charity drives and lifestyle content supported through merchandise, the fanbase has recently faced fragmentation following McBroom's departure from YouTube to join the platform BuzzStar in early 2026. Despite this shift, iFANN has evaluated McBroom's standing within the global celebrity landscape. The iFANN Global Fame Engine has assessed his current position and determined that he does not hold a placement in the published rankings, meaning he is currently unranked on the Global Top 1,000 list or any scope-specific top-100 lists. This absence of a numeric rank indicates a significant fluctuation in his public visibility compared to his peak years during the height of the ACE Family channel. The cultural narrative surrounding him has also pivoted sharply; while once defined by wholesome family vlogging, recent events such as the August 2026 Twitch incident involving allegations of assault have introduced a darker layer to his legacy. These controversies have reshaped how the "Ace Family" community interacts with the world, moving from celebration of luxury milestones to navigating complex legal and reputational challenges.[edit]

Before entering the digital sphere, McBroom was a dedicated college basketball player who led Saint Louis University in three-point shooting percentage during the 2013-2014 season. Despite his athletic background, he never secured a spot in the NBA. Born on May 20, 1992, making him a Taurus, he has built a massive social media presence with over 5 million followers on Instagram and more than 500,000 on Twitter/X. His career took a controversial turn in 2020 when he faced severe backlash for a COVID-19 scare video that critics labeled insensitive and misleading. In the realm of internet lore, the "Spider-Man Livestream Assault Incident" from August 2026 stands as a defining, albeit dark, moment where McBroom claimed violation during a Twitch stream, sparking a rapid escalation into legal disputes and public allegations. Another persistent story circulating among fans involves rumors of a separate house maintained by McBroom, fueling skepticism about the perfect family facade they projected. Additionally, his reputation as a strict moral guide is cemented by a viral anecdote where he admonished fellow influencer Jay Cinco for smelling like weed near a baby, a moment often retold to illustrate his unique stance on parenting standards within the influencer elite.[edit]

McBroom has a younger brother named Landon, who occasionally appeared in ACE Family videos. He married Catherine Paiz in 2017 after a brief engagement. The couple had three children: daughters Elle (born 2018) and Alaïa (born 2020), and a son Steel (born 2022). They announced their divorce in January 2024, leading to ongoing legal disputes over asset division and child custody. As of 2026, McBroom lives in Los Angeles, though his living situation has been affected by the divorce.[edit]

McBroom is closely associated with Catherine Paiz, his ex-wife and co-founder of the ACE Family. He played high school basketball with NBA star Jrue Holiday on a state championship team. In 2023, he fought influencer Bryce Hall in a boxing match. His younger brother Landon McBroom also appeared in ACE Family videos.[edit]

Austin McBroom's most significant relationship was with Catherine Paiz. They began dating in 2015 and became engaged in August 2017, marrying later that year. Together, they had three children: daughters Elle and Alaïa, and son Steel. The couple's relationship was central to the ACE Family brand. In January 2024, they publicly announced their divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. The split has been contentious, involving legal battles over custody and finances. As of 2026, McBroom is reportedly single, with no new public relationships confirmed since the divorce.[edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Austin McBroom's net worth is estimated at $11 Million as of 2026, though this figure remains subject to ongoing divorce proceedings. The majority of his wealth originated from the ACE Family YouTube channel, which generated millions annually through ad revenue, partnerships with brands like HelloFresh and Audible, and merchandise sales. In 2020, Forbes estimated the channel alone earned $18 million that year. McBroom also secured a significant purse from his 2023 boxing match against Bryce Hall. During his marriage, the couple owned a multi-million dollar mansion in Los Angeles, a property now central to financial disputes. Since the split, McBroom's income streams have contracted as the channel's activity level has decreased.[edit]

McBroom has not won any major industry awards. His recognition primarily comes from being named to Forbes' list of highest-paid YouTube creators in 2020.[edit]