Alan Chikin Chow (born November 15, 1998) is an American actor, digital creator, producer, writer, and influencer. He is the highest-ranking YouTube shorts creator with over 100 million subscribers and the creator of the YouTube series Alan's Universe. As of May 2025, he has the 17th most subscribed channel on YouTube. Chow's channel ranks in the top 50 most-subscribed YouTube channels and most viewed YouTube channels in the world. Chow has appeared in TV series and films that include Grey's Anatomy, Mean Girls, I Didn't Do It, and Into the Dark.
Alan was born and raised in Plano, Texas. His father is an engineer at NASA and his mother is the owner of a preschool. His brother Alvan Chow is an investor and a cast-member of the Netflix documentary Eat the Rich.
Alan earned his Bachelors Degree from USC studying screenwriting and business administration. His career in content creation also started during his time at USC as a way to make his family laugh.
Chow began as a model for JC Penney, then booked acting roles on I DidnâÂÂt Do It, GreyâÂÂs Anatomy, and Into the Dark. He also voiced characters in anime series including One Piece.
He started uploading YouTube videos, quickly becoming the most-watched Shorts creator in the United States.
Chow launched AlanâÂÂs Universe, a high-school drama about love and friendship, which has over 1 billion views and has been featured on Good Morning America and CBS News.
In 2024, his channel entered YouTubeâÂÂs global Top 50. He signed with CAA and opened a 10,000 square-foot production studio in Burbank, California, which was attended by YouTube CEO Neal Mohan. AlanâÂÂs Universe was also made available on Roku TV, Amazon Prime Video and Tubi.
In 2025, he announced a joint venture with HYBE Corporation to create and star in a new pop group and streaming series. Alan serves as executive producer and star for HYBE AMERICA x AU alongside Scooter Braun and James Shin.
Bloomberg has described AlanâÂÂs content as having the âÂÂDNA in classic American tween series such as Boy Meets World, a coming-of-age âÂÂ90s sitcom [and] the South Korean high school drama Boys Over Flowersâ and compares it to the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon of the new age.
In 2026, Netflix picked up Alan and HYBE AmericaâÂÂs scripted k-pop TV series. Jingu Jang, former Vice President of BIGHIT Music, joined the project as an executive producer. The series is described to follow a misfit crew of aspiring pop idols enrolled in an arts academy who come together to form a co-ed band.
Alan launched a webcomic titled AlanâÂÂs Universe Forever: IâÂÂm Trapped in an Anime! in partnership with webcomic company Storygrounds. An animated episode of AlanâÂÂs Universe was released alongside the webcomic.
Alan has been ranked in multiple top creator lists, including Forbes Top Creators, Forbes 30 Under 30, and TIME100 Creators. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan has referred to his impact as a âÂÂpowerful symbol of the broader shift happening in the entertainment industryâÂÂ.
He works with Act to Change, a non-profit against bullying for AAPI youth. He donated to the organization during TikTok's #GivingSzn.