Jose Hinostroza, (known online as QTClaps), a teen from Miami, Florida, started making significant cash after posting videos of himself playing Fortnite and other games like Call of Duty during the pandemic. His online streams quickly grew in popularity, attracting thousands of followers who tuned in to watch his every move on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch.
As the money started rolling in, Jose realized he could leave his minimum-wage McDonald’s job behind, where he’d been bagging fries and working the grill, and devote himself fully to gaming. The decision paid off, and at just 18, he became a millionaire.
Jose switched gears from casual gaming to full-time esports tournaments on TikTok. He began receiving donations from fans who watched him play for hours, earning even more as his fanbase grew. With his skill and dedication, Jose was soon living a dream lifestyle, buying a four-bedroom house in Miami, a Mercedes-Benz, and even a jet ski.
But while the fame and fortune were nice, Jose admits that his work schedule has had a major impact on his love life. Since his typical workday doesn’t end until midnight, any potential partner would need to adjust to his late-night lifestyle, which he says is similar to dating “like a vampire.”
Jose explained, “I was a millionaire by 18. I didn’t grow up with a lot of money, so it means a lot to me, and I feel pretty cool about it. I went from making $8 an hour to six figures a month, and that feels amazing.”
But he added that being a full-time gamer affects his dating life in a big way: “I’m only free at night, and I don’t finish work until 12 a.m. They’d have to be okay with that weird schedule and live the same way. It’s like dating a vampire. It would be great to find someone who shares my passion and is free at the same odd hours I am, but I feel like that would be impossible.”
The gaming millionaire also reflected on the challenges he faced with adult opinions about his career. “A lot of adults still don’t understand how anyone can make a living playing games, especially something like Fortnite,” he said. “They see it as just a ‘kids’ game,’ and I get a lot of judgment from people who think it’s not a serious career. But I’m proving them wrong. I’m making more than I ever could have imagined.”
Jose recalled his early days of working at McDonald’s, where after his shift, he’d come home to play online tournaments. “I’d win these tournaments and make about $100 a day, so I started recording the games and posting them on YouTube,” he said. “People started watching, and it grew really fast.”
He remembers a turning point when he realized his streaming could be a full-time gig. “COVID-19 hit, and I was just starting to get traction on Twitch. When I realized how much money I was making from posting gaming content and winning tournaments, I knew it could be a career.”
Today, Jose has 200,000 followers on Twitch, 280,000 on YouTube, 450,000 on TikTok, and 80,000 on Instagram.
“I never thought I’d get to this level,” he said. “Fortnite was huge at the time, so everyone wanted to see videos about it. From there, it just kept growing.”
Looking ahead, Jose is confident in his path: “I can see myself doing this for a few years. Growing up, I always thought I’d do something with social media. My dad wanted me to become an anesthesiologist, but school wasn’t for me. Now my family is really proud of what I’ve accomplished.”
Despite all his success, he can’t help but wish for a simpler, more straightforward love life—one where meeting someone isn’t dependent on gaming hours or navigating misunderstandings about his career.
