Casey Neistat
He turned a handheld camera and a relentless work ethic into a new visual language for storytelling on the internet.
Born 1981 (age 45)·American YouTube personality, filmmaker, vlogger and entrepreneur·Birthday: March 25·Millennials
Biography
Casey Neistat’s journey from a high school dropout to a defining voice of digital video is a story of raw persistence. Raised in Connecticut, he moved to New York City as a teenager, a period that forged his gritty, DIY filmmaking style. His early short films, like 'iPod's Dirty Secret,' went viral for their pointed commentary and kinetic energy. This led to a Hollywood stint, but the constraints of traditional media pushed him back to the open web. On YouTube, his daily vlog redefined the format, blending breathtaking cinematography with intimate, confessional narratives about creativity and family life. He co-founded the app Beme, aiming to subvert social media vanity, and later launched 368, a workspace for creators. Neistat’s true impact lies in proving that a singular, personal vision could command a global audience without gatekeepers.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Casey was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Casey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Casey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His daily vlog series, running from 2015 to 2018, became a cultural touchstone and helped popularize the high-production vlogging format.
- Co-founded the video-sharing app Beme, which was acquired by CNN in 2016.
- Directed the HBO television series 'The Neistat Brothers' with his brother Van.
- His short film 'What Would Jesus Buy?' with Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir gained critical attention.
Did You Know?
He was arrested for graffiti as a teenager and given a choice between jail and joining the military, opting for the latter.
He ran the 2010 New York City Marathon while filming the entire race himself, holding a camera the whole way.
His first major viral video was a protest against Apple's iPod battery replacement policy.
He famously turned down a $1 million sponsorship deal because it conflicted with his creative independence.
“Do what you can't.”
