Play buttons provide YouTube with a way to recognize the channels with the most followers. The total cost of the button is estimated to be around $261,290. The diamond is estimated to be worth around $100,000.

The button is plated with rhodium, a metal that is more expensive than gold. The diamond playbutton is made of solid gold, with a diamond embedded in the center. This figure is based on the cost of the materials used to create the button, as well as the labor required to assemble it. As of June 2017, YouTube’s diamond playbutton, awarded to channels with over 10 million subscribers, is estimated to cost around $161,290.