Khaby Lame Ranks Among Forbes Top 10 Content Creators of 2024

The meteoric rise of social media has transformed content creation into a $250 billion global industry, with millions of creators now making their living online. The latest Forbes Top Creators List for 2024 highlights the explosive growth of this sector and showcases some of the most influential personalities reshaping digital media. Standing out as the only African representative, Khaby Lame—a Senegalese-Italian icon—is ranked 10th among the world’s highest-earning and most-followed social media stars.

Lame’s success underscores Africa’s growing presence in global digital media. Often dubbed the “Charlie Chaplin of digital media,” Lame has charmed audiences with his silent, comedic reactions to popular memes and viral trends, earning him the title of the most-followed creator on TikTok with an impressive 163 million followers. Across platforms, Lame’s influence reaches a staggering 255 million followers, underscoring his global appeal. The silent humor that defines his videos has garnered about 2.5 billion likes, transforming his content into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. Jumping from 11th place in 2023 to a top 10 position this year, his annual earnings rose from $16.5 million to $20 million.

In an industry where American creators still dominate, Lame’s ranking at number 10 is a significant achievement, reflecting both his individual success and the international expansion of the content creation ecosystem. American influencers, such as Mr. Beast, Dhar Mann, and Charli D’Amelio, continue to lead the list, but Lame’s influence, paired with other African creators’ visibility, signals a broader trend of African talent gaining recognition on a global stage.

Forbes’s analysis, completed in partnership with the creator marketing firm Influential, took into account each creator’s earnings, follower count, engagement, and entrepreneurial ventures over the past year. Gross earnings estimates from June 2023 to June 2024 were compiled to determine the rankings, with top creators cumulatively generating an estimated $720 million—a $20 million increase over the previous year. The list also revealed a total of 2.7 billion followers across platforms, up by over 100 million from last year’s ranking. This growth aligns with projections from Goldman Sachs, which anticipates the industry to reach a valuation of nearly $500 billion by 2027.

Notably absent from the top 10 this year was Olajide Olatunji, also known as KSI, a Nigerian-British YouTube personality and boxer who ranked second in last year’s list. KSI’s absence marks a shift but also leaves space for other African creators to step into the spotlight as the creator economy continues to expand.

Khaby Lame’s story exemplifies the global reach and cultural impact of African creators in the digital age. His journey from job loss in Italy to international social media sensation highlights the transformative potential of digital platforms for African talent and the African diaspora. His work goes beyond entertainment, serving as a bridge between cultures and reaching a diverse audience worldwide.

Below is Forbes’ 2024 top 10 content creator list:

With the rapid growth of digital platforms, Africa’s emerging voices like Khaby Lame are set to play an increasingly central role in global media, marking an exciting time for African content creators and the continent’s impact on international culture.