KEY POINTS

  • "Baby Shark" became the most viewed video in YouTube's history after reaching 7.046 billion views Monday
  • The children's song surpassed "Despacito's" 7.039 billion views
  • "Baby Shark" was created by South Korean company Pinkfong and uplaoded on YouTube in 2016

“Baby Shark” has surpassed Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s smash hit “Despacito” to become YouTube’s most-watched video of all time.

The children’s rhyme has now been watched over 7.046 billion times on the video-sharing platform, dethroning the hit Spanish song Monday, Billboard reported. “Baby Shark,” recorded by South Korean company Pinkfong, clinched the no. 1 position four years after it was released on YouTube.

Uploaded in June 2016, “Baby Shark” has nearly 7 million more views than “Despacito,” which debuted in January 2017. The latter has more than 7.039 billion views on YouTube.

Min Seok Kim, CEO of Pinkfong’s parent company SmartStudy, issued a statement and thanked fans for creating the record. Kim also noted that the company will continue to “focus on delivering high-quality entertainment” to its viewers.

“Without the love and support of fans around the world, Baby Shark's new record would have been impossible. We're very honored by this record and will continue to focus on delivering high-quality entertainment beyond the digital platforms,” Kim said in the statement obtained by Billboard.

Meanwhile, it is believed that Pinkfong made over $5.2 million from YouTube streams alone, the BBC has learned.

Last year, the rhyme also reached no. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The children’s song became so famous that Gerardo Parra of the Washington Nationals chose “Baby Shark” as his walk-up music in a game against Philadelphia Phillies. Parra, who had a slump in his batting form, struck a home-run in the same game and kept the song as his walk-up music for the entire season.

All the fans used to welcome Parra in the ground by singing “Baby Shark” in unison and the players used the song’s dance moves to celebrate their runs.

The side won their maiden Major League Baseball World Series title in 2019 and defeated Houston Astros in the final.

The fans were obsessed with the song and bombarded MLBShop.com to buy “Baby Shark” products. Later, it was revealed that more than 4,500 various “Baby Shark” products, worth $100,000, were sold during the season.

Here are the 10 most-watched YouTube videos of all time:

  1. “Baby Shark Dance” – Pinkfong (7.046 billion views)
  2. “Despacito” – Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee (7.039 billion)
  3. “Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran (5.05 billion)
  4. “See You Again” – Wiz Khalifa, Charlie Puth (4.79 billion)
  5. “Masha and the Bear” – Get Movies (4.36 billion)
  6. “Johny Johny Yes Papa” – LooLoo Kids (4.14 billion)
  7. “Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars (3.99 billion)
  8. “Gangnam Style” – Psy (3.84 billion)
  9. “Learning Colors” – Miroshka TV (3.65 billion)
  10. “Sorry” – Justin Bieber (3.36 billion)
Baby Shark Live in New York
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 08: Baby Shark, Hogi, and Pinkfong perform during "Baby Shark Live!" presented by Pinkfong at Kings Theatre on November 08, 2019 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Baby Shark) Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Baby Shark