Move over Hollywood elite, there’s a new wave of talent rising to fame (and fortune) beyond Tinseltown.
Enter: Forbes’ Top Creators of 2023 list.
After evaluating each influencer on earnings, follower count, engagement rates, and entrepreneurial activities (based on data from marketing firm, Influential) — the publication revealed 50 famous faces who've collectively earned $700M in revenue.
These social media stars turn followers into fortunes. Meet the 50 top creators across platforms: https://t.co/YJU2VAeijz
— Forbes (@Forbes) October 3, 2023
Spanning TikTok favorite Khabane (Khaby) Lame, YouTuber Marques Brownlee, Instagram star Monet McMichael and so many more, the list reveals some seriously impressive stats.
So, did your fave follow make the cut? We’re unveiling which influencers claimed the top five spots, below.
Editor's Note: A 2021 report found that the pay gap between white and BIPOC influencers is 29% — spotlighting a lack of diversity in marketing. And judging by the top ten creators in Forbes' list, we still have a ways to go.
Table of Contents
The Top Five Influencers in 2023 — According to Forbes
While Forbes' list spans 50 different creators in multiple niches, these are the top five influencers cashing in:
Jimmy Donaldson
Olajide Olatunji (KSI)
Jake Paul
Rhett & Link
Charli D'Amelio
Forbes Top Influencer #1: Jimmy Donaldson, @mrbeast
Coming in at the number one spot is YouTube powerhouse, Jimmy Donaldson (AKA MrBeast).
Known for viral stunts and challenges — from spending 50 hours buried alive to eating the world’s largest pizza slice — Donaldson has over 312M followers and counting.
But what sets Donaldson apart is his entrepreneurial ventures like Feastables snack bars, which allegedly made over $10M in its first few months.
FYI: Later Influence™ is an influencer marketing platform trusted by top enterprise brands to plan, manage, and analyze their creator programs. Learn more.
Forbes Top Influencer #2: Olajide Olatunji (KSI), @ksi
Olajide Olatunj, better known as KSI, was an early adopter of YouTube reaction videos — specifically FIFA video games.
Garnering a community of over 112M followers, he has since pivoted his talents to become a rapper, boxer, and co-creator of sports drink Prime Hydration — pocketing $24M according to Forbes.
Forbes Top Influencer #3: Jake Paul, @jakepaul
A former Vine star turned YouTuber and boxer, Jake Paul comes in at number three on Forbes’ list.
While both he and his brother Logan (who took the #6 spot) have each had their fair share of controversies over the years, Jake’s earned over $34M and has a following of 66M.
Forbes Top Influencer #4: Rhett & Link, @mythical
Rhett and Link (real names Rhett James McLaughlin and Charles Lincoln “Link” Neal III) are the best friend and former engineer duo taking the internet by storm — to the tune of over 51M followers.
What started out as the two performing comedic sketches on YouTube has since evolved into a full-fledged media empire: Mythical — complete with podcasts, books, and a television show.
Forbes Top Influencer #5: Charli D'Amelio, @charlidamelio
After dominating TikTok, Charli D’Amelio has expanded her brand well beyond viral dance videos.
With over 213M followers, the online force has secured major brand deals with Prada, CeraVe, and even landed a Hulu series.
Rewarded to the tune of $23M, D’Amelio is dancing all the way to the bank.
And that’s it!
Between their collective pull, massive communities, and brand partnerships, these five influencers are the most influential creators on the internet — according to Forbes.
And with the influencer economy estimated to be a $100B industry, it's never been a more exciting time to be in the social media space.
We're curious to see how it evolves.
ICYMI: With Later's influencer marketing platform, enterprise brands can easily manage and streamline their influencer marketing campaigns. Schedule a call to get started.
