Even if you have never heard the name Khaby Lame, in all likelihood, you would have seen his videos. Whether or not you’re on TikTok, you would have seen his videos being shared on other social media platforms or messenger apps. The rise in Khaby Lame’s net worth and fame is one of the most extraordinary stories of the pandemic.
Even in his wildest dreams, Khaby Lame himself couldn’t have predicted where he would reach in just two years:
- From out of nowhere, he has become the most followed person on TikTok.
- He has an astounding 151 million followers on the platform.
- Lame has more than 2.5 billion likes just on TikTok.
- He has more than 80 million followers on Instagram.
In other words, he is the unofficial king of TikTok. No wonder everyone is interested in Khaby Lame’s net worth and what brand association or content creation he would be involved in.
When you think of social media stars, you usually think of film stars, singers, sports stars, models, business personalities, and entrepreneurs. You rarely associate social media stardom with an immigrant with a language problem. That’s what makes Khaby Lame’s story so unique and inspiring.
Who is Khaby Lame?
Before we get to Khaby Lame’s net worth and how much he makes every year, let’s first answer who this TikTok sensation is and how it all got started. Born on March 9, 2000, Khabane ‘Khaby’ Lame is a Senegalese citizen whose family moved to Chivasso, Italy, when he was a 1-year-old. He obtained Italian citizenship in August 2022.
He was earning $1000 a month in Italy, working as a waiter and factory worker. That’s when the pandemic hit, and Lame lost his job. He was confined to his parent’s apartment, and that’s when he started creating videos on TikTok.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Lame became a social media sensation because of his short-form comedy videos. Since he didn’t speak English initially, he found it hard to connect with his audience. But Lame turned his disadvantage into a unique brand of humor that’s now readily recognized worldwide.
What makes Khaby Lame unique?
Most of Lame’s videos have no dialogue. He’s especially known for reaction videos and those making fun of absurd life hacks. His body language and iconic facial expressions have created an instantly recognizable and unique brand identity that has fueled his meteoric rise on TikTok.
Using his gestures, expressions, and some props for humor, Lame effortlessly communicates in silence. Since he doesn’t speak in his videos, they can be understood by anyone from around the globe. That has made him a bona fide global star on TikTok.
Lame is known for making fun of TikTok trends, viral hits, and magic tricks, among other things. His videos end with an exasperated expression on his face that’s instantly relatable. Some of his most famous videos include the ones where he debunks a magic trick, pokes fun at a firefighter dance video, and mocks self-defense videos.
Making people laugh and entertaining them have been his passion ever since he was a child. Lame is committed to creating engaging work for his community. Where others are limited by their languages, he speaks to a universal audience. From villages in India to European capitals to Latin American cities, his fanbase now covers the globe.
What is Khaby Lame’s net worth?
The most unlikely social media star that anyone could have imagined, Khaby Lame has now become a brand of his own that’s instantly recognizable. So, how much is Khaby Lame worth? The biggest star of TikTok is currently worth $15 million! And remember that Lame is just getting started.
Let’s break down his net worth and figure out how he earns it. According to his manager Alessandro Riggio (yes, he has a manager), Lame earns around $750,000 per TikTok post. That’s for a single promotional video he posts on the platform. That adds up to an annual revenue of around $10 million just this year.
One of the most famous collaborations that Lame was involved in was the promotion of the Idris Elba movie Beast. Starring with Elba, Lame is rumored to have charged $750,000 for the 59-second video. Brands across categories are interested in partnering with Lame, and that interest is only set to grow.
How does Khaby Lame spend his money?
Those interested in Khaby Lame’s net worth would most certainly be interested in how he spends his money. After all, his journey from a laid-off factory worker to the biggest TikTok star has been nothing short of spectacular. So, how does he use the money from his newfound fame?
Not surprisingly, Khaby Lame has a luxury car collection. These include a Mercedes G Class, Jeep Compass, BMW X5, and Audi RS5. Lame has also been investing in real estate. His Los Angeles pad has a tennis court and a swimming pool. Lame also has an apartment in Milan that he shares with Riggio, his manager.
Clearly, a massive leap for someone confined to his parent’s apartment during the pandemic.
But this isn’t to suggest that Lame is frivolously spending money. He hasn’t bought things like yachts, which the newly rich usually tend to prefer. Instead, he is smartly investing in a slew of assets that will pay him rich dividends. Along with real estate, Lame has been investing in software companies and even a restaurant.
The growing net worth of Khaby Lame
Considering his rising fame, Khaby Lame’s net worth will only increase. Why? Because in social media, visibility can compound and create intrinsic value even outside of the platforms. This opens up space for monetization avenues.
With the evolution of social commerce, the potential of social media stars to launch their own products and services is staggering. For reference, all you have to look at is Charli D’Amelio, the second-most followed individual on TikTok.
D’Amelio, along with her sister, Dixie, has generated more than $70 million over the last few years. They recently launched D’Amelio Brands, that’s valued at $100 million. This exerts ownership over all their business ventures.
If that’s the trajectory of the one behind Lame, one can only imagine how much his net worth would increase. Promotional videos are only a part of his income stream. There are more brand endorsement opportunities from every part of the world.
There are more categories to be explored and more businesses to partner with. But that’s not all. Lame also commands high appearance fees at events the world over.
Khaby Lame’s foray into fashion
It’s well known that fashion brands are tired of the same old models who become the faces of their collections. They are actively looking for new faces with broader appeal and a pre-built community. A case in point is Francis Bourgeois, the famous trainspotter from TikTok who partnered with Gucci to promote the brand’s North Face collection.
Lame is also making his mark in the fashion world. Recently, Boss paid him $450,000 to appear for them in the Milan Fashion Week. As part of the deal, he also had a TikTok post to promote the brand’s collection.
Lame could launch his products or partner with major brands to co-own brands under his name. Like other celebrities, he could generate millions of dollars through merchandise partnerships with established brands and exponentially increase Khaby Lame net worth.
Khaby Lame’s plans: Hollywood and beyond
Lame has never shied away from sharing his dream, which is to be a movie star in America. His goal is to become a comic actor, just like his idol, Will Smith, and even star with him. That’s one of the reasons he attended the Venice Film Festival.
And an Oscar? Why not? He doesn’t rule that out.
He has been preparing hard to accomplish his dream. He has been consistently studying English, his third language. His favorite strategy for learning the language? Binge-watching an animated series called Daniel Tiger based on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Understanding the need for a professional management agency for other creators, Lame, along with Riggio, founded Iron Corporation. This creative agency will manage the social presence of content creators, actors, and athletes. Importantly, based on his learnings, Lame will help them monetize their content in numerous ways.
Unlike most social media influencers, Lame isn’t looking at the short-term. He isn’t content with brand endorsements or event appearances. If ever the social media algorithms change, he will have several other career options. This is his way of future-proofing his social media presence.
With a strategic vision to diversify his income streams and manage content creators while building his Hollywood career, it’s certain that Khaby Lame’s net worth will only grow in the future.
Just because his other plans are successful doesn’t mean that Lame will leave TikTok. He’s planning to make more TikTok videos while learning English. Brand Khaby Lame will be part of the social media ecosystem for a long time to come.