Turns out New Yorkers aren’t only fans of the Knicks. According to a new study that tracks spending on the adult subscription platform OnlyFans, the Big Apple is far and away the biggest spender in New York State, and one of the biggest in the entire country. Money, apparently, is no object to horny big spenders in and around Gotham. Lusty locals across New York City are on track to spend a staggering $164.3 million on the predominantly X-rated content offered on the popular platform in 2026, according to September findings from OnlyGuider, a discovery directory designed for finding OnlyFans stars. The researchers analyzed spending data in all 50 states over the past three years, from 2023 to 2025, and then used predictive AI modeling via Google’s TimesFM 3.0 — a general-purpose, zero-shot time-series foundation model — to forecast just how much money people would be doling out before December 31. Their numbers are enough to make anyone blush. Since 2023, the nation has spent a staggering $13.848 billion on the NSFW site, with New York residents contributing a hefty $850.8 million toward that total. This year alone, the Empire State is poised to give OnlyFans $341.9 million, ranking it in the top three states overall. California sits in first place with $675 million heading to the platform, while Texas claims second with $497.5 million. But even with California’s massive lead, New York’s spending is nothing short of remarkable — especially for a single city within a state that has so many other urban centers.
Behind these eye-popping numbers is a larger story about how OnlyFans has transformed from a pandemic-era curiosity into a full-blown economic engine. During the early 2020s, when the world was stuck at home and looking for entertainment, connection, and a little financial relief, OnlyFans boomed. The platform, where busty bombshells and bootylicious babes abound, has financially transformed the lives of its everyday performers. There have been countless headlines about cash-strapped school teachers who ditched their desks to talk dirty online for $36,000 a month, and bosomy beauties whose sky-high earnings have landed them in hot water with the law. There has been no shortage of sirens and subscribers who’ve eagerly embraced the outlet. But what the new data reveals is that the appetite for this content is not just physical or visual — it’s deeply personal. The horn-dogs of the concrete jungle don’t only want to look at the sex kittens on their screens; they want to get in touch with them, too. In fact, investigators for OnlyGuider determined that Gothamites are spending a remarkable $115 million of the city’s $164.3 million outlay on direct messages and bespoke content requests. That means subscribers are not just passively watching; they are paying for private conversations, custom videos, and one-on-one attention. This is the real money maker, and New Yorkers seem to understand it better than almost anyone else.
The trend is not just about big numbers; it’s about a shift in how people consume intimacy and entertainment. Sam Pierce, the CEO of OnlyGuider, framed it perfectly in a statement. “New York City spending in 2026 is +11.2% [up from the $147.8 million spent in] 2025,” he said. But he also noted that fewer heat-seekers are patronizing OnlyFans this year compared to previous years. “That’s the intensity story,” added Pierce. “Fewer people, spending harder.” In other words, the overall audience may be shrinking, but the fans who remain are far more dedicated, more willing to open their wallets, and more desperate for the kind of connection these creators provide. This is the intimacy economy in full swing. In a city as crowded, fast-paced, and often anonymous as New York, paying for a direct message can feel like a moment of genuine connection. A custom video might offer something a casual hookup or a crowded bar cannot: the feeling of being truly seen, desired, and understood. That emotional pull is powerful, and it explains why people are spending more even when subscriber counts dip. It’s not just about sex; it’s about attention, validation, and the fantasy of a relationship that feels real, even if it only exists behind a screen.
For the creators themselves, this shift is equally significant. Many OnlyFans performers are not professional porn stars; they are everyday people — single parents, college students, nurses, teachers, veterans, and artists — who discovered that their bodies, personalities, and willingness to engage could be monetized in ways they never imagined. The platform has allowed them to take control of their own narratives, set their own prices, and build loyal audiences who are happy to pay for more than just a glimpse. The direct message economy, in particular, has become a lifeline. A single subscriber willing to pay for a five-minute custom video or a late-night chat can generate more revenue than dozens of passive followers. And New Yorkers, according to the data, are among the most willing to do exactly that. They want the personal touch. They want someone to remember their name, acknowledge their requests, and make them feel special. In a city of eight million people, that kind of individual attention is rare and valuable. OnlyFans creators are essentially selling a luxury product: personalized desire. And in New York, where money often flows as freely as the subway trains, that product is selling remarkably well.
Now, for anyone wondering where exactly in New York State this spending is happening, the study offers a clear breakdown. New York State’s top five most horny-for-OnlyFans hotspots are led, unsurprisingly, by New York City, which blows everyone else out of the water with $164.3 million in projected spending. Buffalo comes in a distant second with $11.86 million, followed by Rochester at $5.84 million, Syracuse at $4.23 million, and Yonkers at $2.17 million. While the Big Apple accounts for the vast majority of the state’s overall spending, the presence of Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse on the list shows that the appetite for OnlyFans is not confined to the wealthy neighborhoods of Manhattan or the trendsetters of Brooklyn. These are Rust Belt cities with working-class roots, struggling economies, and populations that often feel overlooked by the rest of the country. And yet, they too are spending millions on adult content and personal connections. Buffalo’s $11.86 million is particularly striking for a city of its size, and Rochester’s $5.84 million shows that even smaller metropolitan areas have a thriving market for digital intimacy. Yonkers, tucked right above the Bronx, rounds out the top five, proving that the demand for OnlyFans stretches far beyond the glittering skyline of Manhattan.
So what does all of this mean in the grand scheme of things? It means OnlyFans has become more than just a website; it is a cultural phenomenon, an economic force, and a window into the complexities of modern desire. The projected 2026 figures show no signs of slowing down, even in a world where inflation, housing costs, and everyday expenses continue to rise. People are still finding room in their budgets for the things that make them feel alive, connected, and desired. For some, that means tickets to a Knicks game. For others, it means a private message from a favorite creator. The fact that New Yorkers are spending $164.3 million on OnlyFans this year says something profound about the human condition: we all want to be seen, we all want to be wanted, and we are willing to pay for it. As Sam Pierce put it, fewer people are spending harder — and that intensity tells a story about loneliness, ambition, fantasy, and the endless search for connection in a disconnected world. New York City may be famous for its skyscrapers, its Broadway shows, and its basketball teams, but behind closed doors, with phones glowing in the dark, millions of New Yorkers are pursuing something far more intimate. And in 2026, they’re doing it with their wallets wide open.
