Forbes’ latest ranking of the world’s top 50 creators has put Khaby Lame back in focus after an earlier $975 million stock deal involving his company, highlighting Africa’s link to the global creator economy at a time when African-born digital stars remain underrepresented on major international creator lists.
Lame, who was born in Dakar, Senegal, and built his career in Italy, ranked 15th on Forbes’ 2026 Top Creators list.
Forbes estimated his creator earnings at $9.9 million as of June 23, 2026, with 252.1 million total followers and an average engagement rate of 4.72%.
The ranking places Lame among the world’s most commercially successful digital creators and strengthens Africa’s claim to one of social media’s biggest personal brands, even though he is often identified internationally as an Italian influencer.
He remains TikTok’s most-followed creator, ahead of American creator Charli D’Amelio, who has about 158 million followers, and MrBeast, with about 128.8 million.
