Behold, the reigning Queen of Instagram. Yes, it's true: Kylie Jenner currently makes $1,000,000 per sponsored post! It's hard to believe that social media has become this big in the subliminal messaging business, but we're officially there. It's a brave new world, people!
Kylie's got it down to a science, but who is her competition?
Paid To Post
We've tracked down the highest-paid influencers on the platform, and it may surprise you to see who's building a secret second empire this way.
From unknown faces to world-famous athletes, some of these names make more on Insta than their known professions!
Let's take a peek, shall we?
Emily Ratajkowski: $26,500
Emily probably came into our lives for the first time à la Robin Thicke and the Blurred Lines phenomenon. But since her debut, she has been snapping up a storm in a second career on Instagram. Usually wearing very little, Emily has a talent for selfies in public bathrooms like we've never seen. But how much does that really bring in these days?
Why, more than $26k! That is a nice chunk of change, Emily. We suspect this was just a bit of ho ho ho holiday fun for the model. Or maybe Santa got bored with Mrs. Claus and sponsored this post?
Bella Hadid: $27,000
While sister Gigi has become a truly recognizable face in music videos and campaigns, the family business doesn't end there. Bella Hadid has become a very successful runway and Instagram model, too! She was recently named the most beautiful woman in the world, according to AI software measuring facial symmetry. Yes, really!
How much does the perfect facial balance score in the sponsored post business? More than $27,000 in some cases, we see! Bella is currently beating her sister in the social media sponsorship game, but only time will tell to see who comes out on top.
Sommer Ray: $29,000
Sommer, where did you come from? Not an established celebrity, but doing quite well in the Insta game with more than 20 million followers! What is her claim to fame, anyway?
Bodybuilding is the skill here, and Sommer has been competing since she was 16. It looks like fans really appreciate her hard work, and it's not hard to see why!
Today, a sponsored post from this wholesome Colorado rancher and fitness star is worth a cool $29k. Not bad, Sommer! But who has reached the next level?
Zach King: $30,000
Apparently it pays to be a goofball, as is proven once and for all by Zach King. He originally gained online attention when he created a cat lightsaber duel on YouTube, and it seems he really capitalized on that momentum in a series of Vine videos. How much do those clever little cuts make Zach on the Instagram platform, though?
It seems his move to Insta was a good one, with a cool 30 grand for a sponsored post. Way to go, Zach — you're actually beating some pretty famous models on the platform!
Eleonora Pons: $32,500
Known as Lele by millions, Eleonora Pons was actually born in Venezuela. Immigrating early, she started her American life in Miami. When the age of social media hit, Lele brought her unique perspective with comedy to Vine and quickly became number one on the platform! With more than a billion views, she must have been sad when the company shut down. How's she doing on Instagram in the aftermath?
Not too bad, as it turns out. One sponsored post is worth more than 30 thousand for this social star, but she has become pretty busy in between. Lele is now singing, acting, and modeling. And she hosts Mexico’s version of The Voice on TV!
Huda Kattan: $33,000
Iraqi-American Huda Kattan actually grew up in Oklahoma, but she had glamorous dreams up her sleeve that we all know about now. Passionate about makeup, she started a cosmetics brand called Huda Beauty. It quickly caught on through social media promotion as a must-have for millions of gals around the world, and the brand is worth more than $600 million today!
In her spare time, she earns extra cash for sponsored posts. A little here, a little there. $33k is just extra padding for Huda, we suspect! It seems she really enjoys sharing the quirky side of life with fans, like her experience with lip fillers! For the record, she says it was a great experience. Ouch!
Floyd Mayweather: $107,000
Floyd "Money" Mayweather is pretty open about his laser focus on amassing a fortune beyond boxing. Despite being the unbeatable world champion, Floyd knows that his career has a physical expiration date ahead. Juggling multiple businesses while winning televised fights has gotten him up to the $285 million mark on the Forbes list so far. Not bad, Floyd!
Floyd has so many fans that each sponsored post is now evaluated at $100,000 for advertisers. And right on time, they pay up!
Stephen Curry: $110,000
You might originally know Stephen from his basketball moves in Oakland, but he is becoming very well known just on Instagram! He loves to post pictures with his lady, and document the sillier side of life in his free time. Here, a fan is actually getting a Stephen Curry Tattoo!
A sponsored post by this athlete is estimated to be more than $100k these days, in case you're in the market for a recognizable promoter. While he is doing very well for an sportsman on Instagram, there are still a few who have him beat. Who could they be?
Virat Kohli: $120,000
Have you heard of Virat Kohli? If you don't live in India, perhaps not. But being the top cricket player in this populous nation means a billion people potentially know your name. And that's got to be worth a lot to advertisers, right?
Yes, indeed. The captain of India’s cricket team has 32 million followers, and that currently means each post is worth $120,000. Virat's Bollywood wife Anushka Sharma often features on the account, a double delight for fans!
Conor McGregor: $125,000
As it turns out, Floyd Mayweather's nemesis is currently winning the Instagram fight online. Although Conor lost in a very public way against his American opponent, he does still make more than Floyd for sponsored posts!
These days, Conor can relax knowing that each ad nails down a quick $125k to keep the money train going after losing all that prize-fight cash in front of the world. Bittersweet, it is not: Conor actually has his own line of menswear and a private whiskey label now!
Luis Suárez: $150,000
FC Barcelona is one of the most popular soccer teams in the world. Or should we say, football? No matter, let's see how much striker Luis Suárez makes on Insta!
With approximately 32 million followers, Luis easily gets $150 grand for sponsored material on the platform. And with a lovable family to feed that he likes to show off on Insta, that's pretty good extra income in the off-season!
Zlatan Ibrahimović: $175,000
Swedish soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimović is such an acrobatic and personally popular striker that he was picked to play for the LA Galaxy. Why you may ask? Well, it seems the league felt they needed a real superstar to get fans interested in North America. And Zlatan has 36 million followers on Instagram!
Recognized on a first-name basis by millions worldwide, he is now a top-earning athlete on the platform for sponsored posts. Just one endorsement is worth $175,000 right now!
Gareth Bale: $185,000
Real Madrid is not just any soccer team. And Gareth Bale s not just any soccer player endorsing products online. Why his posts are worth $185k each!
Gareth actually represents his home turf of Wales on their national team, as well. And the revenue from Instagram combined with his soccer paychecks actually makes him the 2nd-highest paid person in the UK! Starting at age 16, it's hard to imagine that he knew so much money was in this business, or how it would evolve. Thank heavens for Insta, we say!
David Beckham: $300,000
David Beckham is not exactly a low key kind of guy. With a flashy marriage to Posh Spice and prominent fashion modeling campaigns, he has long been comfortable in the spotlight. But what is David up to in the age of Instagram?
As it turns out, making tons and tons of money. Each sponsored Beckham post is worth $300,000! It's not like needed the money, but it seems like he is enjoying himself. We've all been waiting to see him pose in silly little red hats if we're honest!
Priyanka Chopra: $271,000
A Bollywood beauty like no other, Priyanka caught the attention of American singer Joe Jonas. And like that, they were married! Documenting their true love on Insta has been a lot of fun for all of us, but we still want the super-secret gossip about her sponsorships!
Well, it's going very well indeed. With more than a billion people in the Eastern cinema market, there are enough eyeballs on Priyanka's account to merit $271,000 for a sponsored post. Just 4 posts is another million in the bank!
LeBron James: $272,000
LeBron is one of the greatest basketball players in the league today, and many would say he is number one! With that status, advertisers have got to be swarming all over him. Just how much does he make for a sponsored post on Insta at the moment?
$272,000 seems normal, right? Well, it is for LeBron, and these deals might explain how he is able to be so charitable with the After-School All-Stars, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the Children's Defense Fund. And of course, the LeBron James Family Foundation!
Demi Lovato: $458,000
Demi girl, what have you been up to lately? Is that you promoting things on Instagram? Yes, it seems so!
Each sponsored post rakes in almost half a million bucks these days, and that is a testament to her die-hard fan base out there. Companies would not be paying her that moola without confidence that her fans trust her! But will they still trust her when they find out how much she made for that post they saw?
Only time will tell if this advertising technique gets overused, but many stars are making the most of it now. Demi included!
Khloé Kardashian: $480,000
Ah yes, the other Kardashian. This one, or that one? It's getting confusing with so many successful sisters, but let's focus on one of the elders for a moment. Khloé is making a killing on Insta, and it's time to expose it all!
Almost half a million dollars per post is no laughing matter, and Khloé is working it the right way in between her reality show appearances and business deals. Her very public weight loss has put her in a position to promote all kinds of fitness ventures. Yes, we all know the Kardashians notoriously get lipo for that extra bit of help.
No complaints from Khloé's bank account for now, though.
Kendall Jenner: $500,000
And, sadly for Khloé — Kendall has the Instagram edge. Yes, she has hit the actual half-million-dollar mark. No hovering or approximate language here. The social media crowd cannot get enough of the younger Kardashian. At least — for now.
Kendall seems to be distinguishing herself as a runway face, which is a bit different than the popular modeling her sisters did for so long. That lanky look seems to work for her, even on social media!
Lionel Messi: $500,000
Known simply as Messi around the world, this soccer superstar has a second income stream many would envy on social media right now. Even though he is already a millionaire many times over just from his player payslips, Instagram has even more to offer right now!
Just one paid post is a half-million-dollar payout, and Messi has done quite a few. Pictured here with an injury, Messi knows that one day he won't be able to earn physically anymore at all!
Yes, he has recovered. But just in case, Insta income is not a bad insurance policy!
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior: $600,000
Another one name star beating Messi by $100,000 is Neymar, a rival! Representing Brazil, he is definitely one of the top players alive. And his Instagram earnings prove it!
Neymar actually ranks as the third-highest in goals scored for the national team, and Time Magazine lists him as one of the most influential personalities worldwide. These days, that translates social media generated mega wealth! Even a generation ago, this kind of monetized fan access was unimaginable.
Justin Bieber: $630,000
Justin Bieber is not Sorry when it comes to his mad money-making skills on social media. At a crazy $630,000 per sponsored post, he has a lot to celebrate!
This former teen crooner has grown up a lot, and it seems he has become a full-fledged businessman today! His recent bride is model Hailey Baldwin, and she does have an account of her own. Combined, these two are absolutely breaking the bank!
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: $650,000
Yes, we all know The Rock. Maybe it was wrestling, maybe it was The Mummy Returns. As it turns out, a whole new generation may be getting to know him just on Instagram!
In shockingly good shape for a man his age, Dwayne Johnson keeps posting bodybuilding pics. And we are all impressed enough to consider a sponsored post on fitness from this guy, right? The Rock rakes in $650,000 per shot, and it's no wonder he has been able to take a break from blockbuster movies for a bit. Not bad, sir!
Beyoncé Knowles: $700,000
Bey almost destroyed the internet when she premiered this pregnancy on Instagram. Angelic and bit couture was just what her 134 million fans needed, and the views were sky-high. With so many eyes just waiting to see what Beyoncé does next, it's no wonder companies have decided to sneak in.
Yes, it's true. $700,000 is the going rate these days if you want the queen of hip hop to give your product a nod, but not every business has that kind of advertising budget. You get what you pay for, but this is no easy ad!
Kim Kardashian: $720,000
To no one's surprise at all, Kim nears the top of the Instagram pay list. Frankly, it doesn't matter what she posts anymore. Viewers will line up to see her sprawled awkwardly on linens, dazed and confused in Yeezy sneakers. Why not? It's Kim Kardashian, people!
If you have $720,000 to spare, you too can benefit from Kim's killer endorsement power. Oh, you don't? Too bad, so sad. Kim is probably busy anyway.
Taylor Swift: $748,000
Taylor Swift is a lot wealthier than people know. An avid real estate investor, the singer has actually been collecting houses with all her concert tour money. And her recent album deal allows her to own the rights to her music in a way she couldn't in the beginning, which is sure to benefit her at the bank. But what other secondary income does this pop singer secretly milk for all it's worth?
Yes, $748,000 per sponsored post is what Miss Swift really brings in when she is not posting endless pictures of her fuzzy and beloved cat friends at home. Not bad, Taylor!
Cristiano Ronaldo: $750,000
Even Americans who have no interest in soccer at all have heard Cristiano Ronaldo's name once or twice. Yes, he is that big! Does his Instagram endorsement fee reflect this level of notoriety?
Indeed, Mr. Ronaldo gets $750,000 per sponsored photo! He loves to share moments with his children and evidence of his workout routine, too. It's not all sponsored! But on the day this $450 million man feels like making a little extra coin, it's as easy as 1-2-snap. Maravilloso, Maravilloso.
Selena Gomez: $800,000
Selena Gomez has really grown into a lovely starlet since her Disney days. We always knew she would be financially stable with a voice like that, but how is she doing on the social media side of things?
Well, $800,000 per post doesn't seem too shabby. How many posts does she put out annually? More than one, that's for sure!
Selena fans have been pretty loyal over the years, growing up alongside their icon in real-time. Will they follow her product choices, too? At least a few companies think so, and they are putting their big money where their mouth is!
Ariana Grande: $996,000
And finally, we have reached Kylie Jenner's number one competitor on Instagram right now. It's none other than Ariana Grande, and this innocent looking 20-something is savvier than anyone knew!
At a mind-blowing $996,000 per sponsored post, Ariana is nipping at Kylie's heels for the million-dollar mark. Next year's list will be nail biter: Will Kylie Jenner keep the top spot? Only time will tell, but we have our eye on this Dangerous Woman. Starting. Right. Now!