OnlyFans CEO reveals why he hires no middle managers and runs the 400-million-user platform with only 42 employees

OnlyFans CEO Keily Blair has revealed that the global subscription platform, used by over 400 million people and nearly 4 million creators, runs with only 42 full-time employees, thanks to a bold decision to cut out all middle-management roles. Speaking at the Web Summit tech conference in Lisbon, Blair said the company’s unusually lean structure helps it move faster, hire smarter and stay profitable.

Why OnlyFans has no middle managers

In her conversation with Jeff Berman, Blair said the company follows a simple rule: hire very senior talent and very hungry junior talent, and let them work without layers slowing them down.

"So we hire incredibly senior talent, and then we hire incredibly hungry junior talent, and we look for attitude and aptitude in hiring rather than experience. And we do not have that sort of squidgy layer of middle management in the middle, because nobody's ever had a really good middle manager in my experience", Blair explained.


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She said this approach keeps the organisation flat, with each employee acting as an individual contributor instead of managing teams.

Leaders judged by results, not team size

Challenging a common corporate belief, Blair said she rejects the idea that leaders should be valued by the number of people reporting to them. What matters, she argued, is what they deliver.

"We've said to our teams, 'You can be a team of one and deliver exceptional results, and that will be so valued," she said.

A highly profitable platform

OnlyFans, founded in 2016, brings in about $7 billion in annual revenue, according to Business Insider. Its streamlined structure, Blair suggested, plays a major role in keeping the company efficient and profitable.

OnlyFans is a subscription platform where creators share exclusive content directly with fans for a monthly fee. Creators decide their subscription prices, typically between $4.99 and $49.99 per month, and keep 80% of the earnings, while the company takes a 20% commission.

Though widely known for adult content, the platform is also used by musicians, artists and influencers. Since taking over as CEO in 2023, Blair has focused on broadening the platform’s image and pushing for brand partnerships while continuing to support creators worldwide.