Wilbur Soot

William Patrick Gold, known to millions as Wilbur Soot, is an English Twitch streamer, musician, and YouTube creator. He first caught eyes in 2017 as co-founder and lead editor of the comedy channel SootHouse, but his own channel launched in March 2019 is where his blend of dry wit, original music, and Minecraft storytelling really took off. Today he has over 5 million YouTube subscribers and a thriving Twitch community.

As a musician, Gold has scored chart success with his solo single 'Your New Boyfriend' and as frontman of the indie rock band Lovejoy. The band's 2023 EP Wake Up & It's Over hit No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart, a rare feat for a group born from an online personality. On the Dream SMP Minecraft server, his character work and narrative arcs turned him into one of the most talked-about figures in the fan community.[edit]

Gold grew up in Lowestoft, a coastal town in Suffolk, England. Details about his childhood and schooling are mostly private, but he has mentioned in streams that he was a quiet kid who spent a lot of time online. He started making YouTube videos as a teenager, experimenting with editing and comedy sketches long before anyone knew his name.

In 2017, Gold joined a group of online friends to launch SootHouse, a reaction-and-comedy channel where he worked as the lead editor and occasional on-screen participant. The channel grew quickly, and his sharp editing style became a signature. By early 2019, he felt ready to step out on his own. He created the Wilbur Soot channel in March 2019, posting a mix of gaming clips, music, and vlogs. His early videos, like 'Minecraft but it gets worse' and 'I made a song about being a nice guy,' captured the attention of a growing audience who appreciated his self-aware humor.[edit]

The breakthrough came in 2020 when Gold joined the Dream SMP, a private Minecraft roleplay server. His character, a manipulative and tragic figure, became a fan favorite and spawned countless memes, animatics, and lore discussions. That same year, his solo single 'Your New Boyfriend' dropped and became his first charting hit, peaking at No. 64 on the UK Singles Chart. The song's catchy, sardonic tone showed a different side of his creativity.

In 2021, Gold co-founded Lovejoy with three friends. The band's debut EP Are You Alright? arrived in May 2021, followed by Pebble Brain in December, which debuted at No. 12 on the UK Albums Chart. Their sound, energetic, guitar-driven indie rock, quickly found a dedicated audience. The 2023 follow-up Wake Up & It's Over reached No. 5, cementing Lovejoy as a serious musical project rather than a side hobby. Gold continues to balance solo content, streaming, and band work, with Lovejoy touring and releasing new material.[edit]

Wilbur Soot's persona is built on a foundation of dry, self-deprecating humor and a laid-back delivery that makes even chaotic Minecraft moments feel conversational. He rarely raises his voice or overreacts, which sets him apart from the louder end of the streaming spectrum. Fans describe his content as 'cozy chaos', unpredictable but never aggressive.

His signature look is simple: hoodies, glasses, and a slight scruff. He avoids flashy branding, letting his personality do the work. On social media, he posts a mix of band updates, silly observations, and cryptic one-liners that keep his audience engaged. His fanbase, sometimes called the 'Sootlings,' is known for its creative output, fan art, animatics, and theory videos about his Dream SMP lore are a staple of the community.[edit]

Wilbur Soot occupies a unique space where the chaotic energy of the Minecraft community collides with the structured world of indie rock. His fanbase is distinct for its dual loyalty, seamlessly transitioning from viewers of dry-witted speedruns to dedicated listeners of Lovejoy's chart-topping tracks. While some pop stars rely on elaborate branded names, Wilbur's supporters coalesced organically around the moniker "Lvjy," a term born from the band's identity that now serves as the primary identifier for fans on platforms like Reddit. This group has proven remarkably effective at mobilizing digital support, turning streaming parties into tangible chart success for albums like *Pebble Brain* and filling venues for festival appearances such as Isle of Wight in 2023. However, the narrative surrounding this fandom has recently fractured under the weight of serious allegations and tour cancellations that began in March 2024, creating a polarized landscape where musical appreciation clashes with controversy. The mythology of his career includes viral moments like the "I'm Such a Good Actor" music video, which bridged the gap between gaming personalities and mainstream rock, yet recent events involving the "Tyler Catastrophe" trend suggest an ongoing volatility in public perception. Despite these challenges, the core audience remains deeply engaged, blending meme culture with genuine devotion to the artist's evolution. iFANN has evaluated Wilbur Soot's current standing, but the Global Fame Engine has determined he does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings, meaning he is not ranked among the top 1,000 most famous people globally or within any specific Top-100 scope list at this time.[edit]

Gold's online alias 'Wilbur Soot' originated from a random username generator used during his teenage years, sticking because it sounded amusing and was available. He is a self-taught guitarist and pianist who learned chords via YouTube tutorials on a cheap acoustic guitar purchased with birthday money. Outside of Minecraft, Team Fortress 2 holds the title of his favorite video game, a pastime he claims consumed over 1,000 hours during his school years. His black cat, Mango, frequently appears on streams, though Gold often jokes that the feline is the true star of the household. One of his earliest viral hits was the 2019 video 'Minecraft Speedrunner VS 3 Hunters,' a format he helped popularize across the platform. A defining legend of his career involves the crossover appeal of his music, specifically the music video for 'I'm Such a Good Actor' featuring GeorgeNotFound, which went viral and introduced millions of gamers to Lovejoy's sound. Another widely retold story centers on the cultural shift when gaming personalities successfully pivoted to mainstream rock, marking a moment where Wilbur became a symbol of that transition. More recent lore involves the controversy surrounding the cancellation of Lovejoy's tour in March 2024 due to abuse allegations, an event that drastically altered the band's trajectory and sparked intense debate within the community about moving forward too quickly without addressing the issues.[edit]

Gold keeps his family life extremely private. He has mentioned in passing that his parents are supportive of his career but have never appeared in his content. He has a younger sister whose name he has not shared publicly. As of 2026, he lives alone in London, though he often travels for Lovejoy tours and recording sessions. His cat Mango is a constant companion, frequently photobombing his streams.[edit]

Wilbur Soot is closely associated with the other members of Lovejoy: Ash Kabosu, Mark Boardman, and Joe Goldsmith. He also collaborated extensively with Dream SMP members like TommyInnit, Tubbo, and Dream himself. His early work on SootHouse connected him with a circle of British YouTubers including Slimecicle and Charlie Dalgleish.[edit]

Wilbur Soot has kept his romantic life almost entirely out of the public eye. There are no confirmed public relationships, and he rarely discusses dating on stream or social media. As of 2026, he is reportedly single, focusing on his music career and content creation. Fans occasionally speculate about private partners, but Gold has never confirmed any relationship, preferring to maintain a boundary between his personal and online life.[edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Wilbur Soot's net worth stands at $10 Million as of 2026. This figure reflects a diverse portfolio of income streams that have grown steadily since 2020. YouTube ad revenue from his main channel, boasting over 5 million subscribers and hundreds of millions of views, provides a consistent financial foundation. Twitch subscriptions, donations, and bits contribute significantly, particularly during high-activity streaming periods. Music has become an increasingly vital component, with solo singles like 'Your New Boyfriend' generating steady royalties and Lovejoy's EPs achieving strong sales both digitally and on vinyl. The band's touring circuit, including sold-out shows across the UK and US, drives substantial ticket and merchandise revenue. Gold also operates a merchandise line featuring his own designs that regularly sells out. Sponsorships with various gaming and lifestyle brands further round out his earnings profile.[edit]