The Hawk Tuah Girl net worth estimate for 2026 is about $500,000 to $1 million. Haliey Welch went from a bedspring factory job in Tennessee to viral fame in June 2024, then earned money from merchandise, paid appearances, brand deals and her Talk Tuah podcast.
Her rise was one of the fastest in internet history, and her crash into controversy came just as fast. Here is what she actually earned, what went wrong with her crypto coin, and where her money comes from now.
Key Takeaways
- Haliey Welch is worth an estimated $500,000 to $1 million in 2026.
- Her Hawk Tuah merchandise brought in more than $65,000 within weeks of the viral clip.
- She launched Talk Tuah with Jake Paul’s company Betr in September 2024 and now runs it on her own.
- She has said she earned only a marketing fee from the failed $HAWK memecoin, not profits from the coin.
| Full name | Haliey Aliene Welch |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Belfast, Tennessee |
| Profession | Internet personality, podcast host |
| Known for | The June 2024 “Hawk Tuah” street interview in Nashville |
| Estimated net worth (2026) | About $500,000 to $1 million |
| Main income sources | Talk Tuah podcast, merchandise, appearances, brand deals |
What is the Hawk Tuah Girl’s net worth in 2026?
Haliey Welch is worth about $500,000 to $1 million in 2026. That estimate is based on the income streams that are public: merch sales, paid appearances, sponsorships and her podcast. She has not shared her finances, so no exact figure exists.
The range is lower than many people expect for someone who was everywhere online in 2024. Viral fame is loud but often short. Many of her biggest paydays came in a few busy months, and a lot of that money went to managers, agents, travel and taxes.
Who is the Hawk Tuah Girl?
The Hawk Tuah Girl is Haliey Welch, who grew up in Belfast, Tennessee, and was raised by her grandmother. Before she went viral, she worked at a factory that made bedsprings.
On June 11, 2024, the YouTube channel Tim & Dee TV posted a street interview filmed on Broadway in downtown Nashville. Asked for a bedroom tip, Welch answered with a joke and a spitting sound, “hawk tuah.” Clips spread across TikTok and Instagram within a day, and the phrase became one of the biggest memes of the year.
How did Haliey Welch make her money?
Welch moved quickly to turn her moment into income. She quit her factory job on June 27, 2024, and took on several paid projects within weeks.
Merchandise
She teamed up with a local apparel brand to sell “Hawk Tuah” hats and shirts. Within about two weeks, the merch had brought in more than $65,000. That was her first real payday from the meme.
Appearances and brand deals
Through the summer of 2024, Welch made a run of public appearances. She joined country singer Zach Bryan on stage in Nashville, appeared at a Shaquille O’Neal DJ set, and threw a ceremonial first pitch at a New York Mets game in August. On July 2, 2024, she signed with a management company to handle bookings and deals. Appearances like these usually pay a fee, and brands paid to reach her young audience.
The Talk Tuah podcast
Her biggest project started on September 3, 2024. She launched Talk Tuah with Betr, the sports and media company co-founded by Jake Paul. The first guest was comedian Whitney Cummings, and later episodes featured Mark Cuban, Wiz Khalifa and JoJo Siwa.
In early 2025, Welch parted ways with Betr and took the show independent. Owning the podcast means she keeps more of the ad and sponsor money, although she also pays for production herself.
Other projects
In November 2024 she launched Pookie Tools, a dating advice app. In 2025 she announced a documentary about her rise to fame and made a cameo in an episode of the TV series Chad Powers.
What happened with the $HAWK memecoin?
In December 2024, a cryptocurrency called $HAWK launched with Welch as its public face. Its value shot up to nearly $500 million within hours, then fell by more than 90 percent. Many buyers lost money, and the team behind the coin faced pump-and-dump accusations.
A lawsuit filed in federal court in New York named the people who created the coin, not Welch. She has said she knew little about crypto, received only a marketing fee for promoting it, and never made money from the coin itself. She has also said federal authorities looked into the launch and closed their review without action against her.
The crash drew heavy criticism online and hurt her brand at the moment she was trying to grow the podcast. It is a big reason her momentum slowed after the 2024 peak.
How have her earnings changed?
Her income rose and fell sharply over a short time. The table below sums up the main stages.
| Period | What happened | Effect on income |
|---|---|---|
| June to August 2024 | Viral clip, merch, appearances | Fast early earnings, including $65,000+ in merch |
| September to November 2024 | Talk Tuah launch, Pookie Tools app | Podcast ads and sponsors added |
| December 2024 | $HAWK memecoin crash | Damage to brand and deals |
| 2025 to 2026 | Independent podcast, documentary, cameo | Smaller, steadier income |
This pattern explains the modest Hawk Tuah Girl net worth figure, and it is common for viral stars: a burst of money, then a slower stretch where the real test is whether fans keep watching. In 2026 she still has about 2.2 million followers on Instagram, which gives her a base to keep earning from.
How does she compare with other podcasters?
Welch’s podcast is far smaller than the shows run by long-time hosts. Theo Von spent more than 20 years in comedy before his show hit Spotify’s global top five, as our Theo Von net worth profile shows. Her first podcast partner, Betr, belongs to Jake Paul, whose story you can read in our Jake Paul net worth guide.
For more hosts, browse our Podcasters section, see more viral names in Social Media Stars, or go back to our homepage for every YouTuber net worth profile.
Conclusion
The Hawk Tuah Girl net worth estimate for 2026 is about $500,000 to $1 million. She turned a viral street interview into merch sales, paid appearances and the Talk Tuah podcast, which she now runs on her own. The $HAWK memecoin crash slowed her momentum and cost her goodwill, though she says she made no profit from it. Her future earnings depend on whether her podcast and social following keep growing now that the meme has faded.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Hawk Tuah Girl’s real name?
The Hawk Tuah Girl’s real name is Haliey Welch. She is from Belfast, Tennessee, and went viral after a street interview filmed in Nashville was posted on June 11, 2024, by the channel Tim & Dee TV.
Did Haliey Welch make money from the $HAWK coin?
Welch has said she received only a marketing fee for promoting $HAWK and did not profit from the coin itself. A lawsuit over the coin named its creators, not her, and she says authorities closed their review without action against her.
Is Talk Tuah still running?
Yes. Talk Tuah launched in September 2024 with Jake Paul’s company Betr. Welch left Betr in early 2025 and now produces the podcast independently, keeping more of the income from ads and sponsors.
How much did the Hawk Tuah merch make?
Her “Hawk Tuah” hats and shirts brought in more than $65,000 within about two weeks of the viral clip. She sold them through a partnership with a local apparel brand in the summer of 2024.
