Who are the top-earning social media influencers in the United States?

In the past decade, online content creators have transformed from making simple parodies on YouTube to running successful business empires. The rise of social media influencers—individuals who promote products or brands to their extensive social media followings—has significantly reshaped the internet landscape. Today, even the smallest content creators can earn profits from their social media posts.

Over the past year, we’ve seen numerous influencers transition from ordinary individuals to multi-millionaire entrepreneurs. For instance, Alix Earle, after graduating college last May, launched her own scholarship fund at her alma mater. YouTuber MrBeast, known off-screen as Jimmy Donaldson, used his influencer earnings to establish a charity focused on combating hunger and homelessness. Meanwhile, TikTok star Halley Kate, famous for her “GRWM” videos, made headlines by purchasing a house in the Hamptons at just 23.

Platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok have supported these influencers’ lucrative careers, each with its own terms for monetization. While Instagram doesn’t pay creators directly for views, brands spend tens of thousands on sponsored posts and affiliate links. TikTok’s Creator Fund compensates users based on their content’s performance. On YouTube, creators in the Partner Program earn money from ad views on monetized videos.

Even mid-level content creators in the US can earn a substantial income. According to ZipRecruiter, the average influencer makes around $131,874 annually, or $63 per hour. However, this depends on the outcome of efforts to ban TikTok in the US, unless its Chinese owner ByteDance sells the platform to a US-based company. This uncertainty leaves some influencers concerned about their career stability.

Despite the uncertain future of social media influencing, many top-earning content creators have diversified their income streams, reducing their dependence on any single platform. If TikTok is banned, these influencers can rely on their entrepreneurial ventures outside social media.

Here are the top seven highest-earning influencers in the US:

1. MrBeast

In 2023, MrBeast earned an astounding $82 million from his YouTube career, topping Forbes’ list of highest-paid YouTube stars. With 260 million subscribers, he is known for sensational video content. MrBeast also founded the virtual restaurant chain MrBeast Burger and the snack brand Feastables.

2. Jake Paul

Known for his professional boxing career, Jake Paul originally gained fame on Vine before transitioning to YouTube. He co-founded Betr, a sports-media and mobile-betting company, valued at $375 million in June 2023. Paul earned $34 million last year.

3. Rhett and Link

Rhett James McLaughlin and Charles Lincoln “Link” Neal III, known as Rhett and Link, are original YouTube stars. They host “Good Mythical Morning” for their 18.7 million subscribers and run Mythical Entertainment. Their 2023 earnings were estimated at $35 million.

4. Charli D’Amelio

Charli D’Amelio, a top TikTok creator, earned $23 million in 2023. She co-created the clothing brand Social Tourist and published a bestselling book. D’Amelio also won “Dancing with the Stars” and stars in her family’s reality show on Hulu.

5. Logan Paul

Logan Paul, Jake’s older brother, is also a top-earning influencer, making $21 million last year. He transitioned to professional wrestling and has been with WWE since June 2022. His energy drink company, Prime Hydration, is valued between $5.5 billion and $8.4 billion.

6. Emma Chamberlain

Emma Chamberlain gained fame on YouTube at 16 with her candid vlogs. Now 23, she collaborates with top fashion brands and runs Chamberlain Coffee. She also hosts the Spotify podcast “Anything Goes,” earning an estimated $20 million last year.

7. Ryan Kaji

Ryan Kaji, the youngest influencer on this list, earned $35 million in 2023 from his YouTube channel Ryan’s World, which has over 37 million subscribers. He launched his own toy line and video game collaborations with Roblox and Xbox.

These influencers exemplify the diverse and lucrative opportunities available in the evolving