TikTok creators are making millions of dollars, but who is making the most money? Forbes‘ yearly list of the highest-paid TikTokers has revealed all of this.
According to the report, the app’s top-earning creators (excluding celebrities who rose to fame elsewhere) earned a total of $55.5 million in 2021, a staggering 200 percent increase from the previous year.
If you still think of TikTok as a teen-oriented viral dancing software, reconsider. TikTok is a hive of marketing activations, from brand collaborations to endorsements, and these are the most successful creators:
#1: Charli D’Amelio – Earns $17.5M
Follower count: 133.7M
Charli is one of the most-followed TikTok creators and rose to fame thanks to her captivating dance clips. She was an early adopter of the app (she created her account in May 2019).
She has earned a number of corporate agreements since then, ranging from Invisalign to Dunkin Donuts and Hollister, as well as her own Hulu series, The D’Amelio Show — not bad for a 17-year-old.
#2: Dixie D’Amelio – Earns $10M
Follower count: 56.8M
Dixie D’Amelio is best known for being the younger sister of Charli D’Amelio and for jumping on current trends and making funny videos that showcase her personality.
Can she credit Charli’s influence for a lot of her success (and partnerships)? Most likely, but the aspiring singer-songwriter has landed some major deals on her own.
It’s no great deal to work with Valentino and Puma, much alone perform alongside Ed Sheeran and the Jonas Brothers.
#3: Addison Rae – Earns $8.5M
Follower count: 86.2M
Addison Rae, TikTok’s resident lip-sync queen, is another early adopter and competitive dancer.
This Louisiana girl has soared to huge TikTok stardom because to her winning blend of charming, southern drawl and dancing.
Her popularity on the app has won her a major role in Netflix’s remake of He’s All That (with more on the way), as well as an American Eagle collaboration and a cosmetics brand.
Tied at #4: Josh Richards – Earns $5M
Follower count: 25.6M
Josh Richards, who is only 19 years old, is one of TikTok’s most well-known creators.
Since joining TikTok (previously known as musical.ly) in 2017, the floppy-haired Canadian has spent much of our screen time, typically releasing dance and lip-sync videos.
Josh has recently gone into the realm of podcasting, co-hosting the program BFFs with Dave Portnoy and starring in the film Under the Stadium Lights, as well as co-founding an energy drink company.
Tied at #4: Bella Poarch – Earns $5M
Follower count: 87.5M
Bella’s TikTok stardom was sparked by a viral phenomenon – Millie B’s lip-sync of “M to the B” uploaded in August 2020.
Since then, similar syncs has flooded on the feed of Filipino-Instagram American.
While Bella has transitioned to a musical career (her debut song peaked at #56 on Billboard’s pop chart), she has also landed some high-profile endorsement deals with Prada and Google.
Tied at #5: Kris Collins – Earns $4.75M
Follower count: 42.3M
Kris Collins has nailed the combination of comedy with TikTok like peanut butter and jelly.
Her objective, though, was never to become a TikToker. Kris had to stop working as a hairdresser as a result of COVID-19, and she found herself on the app by chance.
Kris’s relatable sketches have now earned her millions on TikTok, as well as lucrative deals with Amazon and Pantene. Whether it’s a clip mocking her parents or a dead-on impression of her siblings, Kris’s relatable sketches have earned her millions on TikTok, as well as lucrative deals with Amazon and Pantene.
Tied at #5: Avani Gregg – Earns $4.75M
Follower count: 39.4M
Avani became famous on TikTok after posting a series of lip-sync videos while wearing extravagant clown makeup.
Through her sense of style and makeup skills, the beauty connoisseur amassed a total of 39.4 million followers.
Since then, the African-American actress has gone into the fashion world, earning brand agreements with Louis Vuitton and Dior, as well as writing the book Backstory: My Life So Far.
That brings us to the end of Forbes’ list of the highest-paid TikTok users.
They’re not simply tastemakers; they set the trends, thanks to their combined pull, main character intensity, and soaring involvement.