Popular technology creator and former long-term employee Jake Tams has publicly addressed his departure from Linus Media Group (LMG), the massive media conglomerate behind the world-renowned YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips.
In a detailed video shared on his personal channel, Tams explained that his decision to leave the company after a 10-year tenure was driven by a combination of mental health struggles, a shifting corporate culture, and a lack of increased compensation.
Tams, who joined the company at the age of 15, described the exit as the most difficult decision of his professional life but one necessary for his personal growth and well-being.
The departure highlights a significant period of “brain drain” for the Vancouver-based media giant, which has seen several key personalities leave to pursue independent content creation.
Tams joined LMG as a general labourer when the main channel had only two million subscribers and eventually rose to become a lead writer and host.
During his decade-long stint, he was instrumental in high-profile projects, including the construction of complex server infrastructures and the massive home automation projects featured on the channel.
However, Tams noted that as the company grew from 10 employees to over 100, the “scrappy” environment he loved transitioned into a highly delegated, corporate structure that left him feeling disconnected from his work.
Financial concerns and the high cost of living in Vancouver also played a pivotal role in the resignation. Tams revealed that despite his significant contributions and increased responsibilities, his total compensation remained effectively the same for over three years.
He noted the personal irony of working on his employer’s “third house” while being unable to afford a home of his own in one of the world’s most expensive real estate markets.
When LMG management reportedly declined to meet or counter his salary request, Tams decided to leave the company without a severance package (a financial payment often given to employees when they leave a company under specific conditions) to focus on his own brand.
The creator also expressed emotional frustration regarding a recent LMG video titled “The TRUTH about How LTT SPENDS Money,” which featured clips of him and other former staff members.
Tams characterized the inclusion as “backhanded,” noting that the company used his image in a section about being proud of former employees immediately after justifying controversial business practices with “capitalism.”
He stated that no one from the company had asked for his permission to use the footage or link to his new channel until he personally raised the issue.
Tams is now focusing on his independent YouTube channel, Jakkuh, which currently boasts over 190,000 subscribers and focuses on high-end server builds and automotive technology.
His exit follows other notable departures from the firm, including veteran writers and hosts like Alex Clark and Emily Young.
Linus Media Group, founded by Linus Sebastian and Yvonne Ho, remains one of the most influential entities in the creator economy, though it has faced a series of public controversies over workplace culture and data accuracy in its product reviews over the last two years.
