Khaby Lame Net Worth

What is Khaby Lame's net worth?

Khaby Lame is a Senegalese-born social media personality who has a net worth of $80 million. As we detail in the next section below, in January 2026, Khaby sold his company, Step Distinctive (he owned 49%), to a Hong Kong-based printing company called Rich Sparkle in an all-cash deal valued theoretically at $975 million. There's a lot more to this headline.

Khaby Lame is one of the most recognizable internet personalities of the modern social media era, known for turning silent reaction videos into a global brand worth tens of millions of dollars. Rising from obscurity during the COVID-19 lockdowns, Lame built a massive audience by mocking overly complicated "life hack" videos with nothing more than expressive gestures, a deadpan stare, and impeccable comedic timing. His content cut across language barriers, cultures, and age groups, making him one of the rare creators whose appeal was truly universal.

What began as casual, low-effort clips filmed in his apartment evolved into a dominant presence on TikTok and Instagram, where his following quickly outpaced nearly every other creator on the platform. At various points, Lame held the title of the most-followed person on TikTok, surpassing long-established stars such as Charli D'Amelio and cementing his place in internet history. Beyond virality, he translated attention into serious business, securing lucrative brand partnerships, global endorsement deals, and high-profile appearances in fashion, film, and advertising.

Unlike many influencers whose popularity fades as trends change, Lame's success has proven durable. His minimalist style, wordless humor, and carefully managed brand image have allowed him to scale from viral creator to international celebrity, with income streams that rival those of top entertainers. In the process, he has become a case study in how simplicity, consistency, and timing can combine to create one of the most profitable careers in social media history.

$975 Million Company Sale???

In early 2026, viral reports claimed that Khaby Lame had "sold" his core company, Step Distinctive Limited, to U.S.-listed Rich Sparkle Holdings (NASDAQ: ANPA) for $975 million. While official SEC filings—specifically a Form 6-K (the international equivalent of an 8-K for foreign issuers) filed on January 9, 2026—confirm the $975 million valuation, the "sale" is far from a cash windfall.

The transaction is an all-stock deal where Rich Sparkle issued 75 million new shares to acquire the company. Furthermore, the filings reveal that Khaby only owned 49% of Step Distinctive Limited, meaning his personal share of the deal is roughly $477 million in paper wealth, not $975 million in cash. Given that ANPA is a highly volatile stock that traded as low as $3 and as high as $150 within the same year, the actual value of this deal is entirely dependent on the company's future stock performance. In other words, Khaby did not sell his company for $975 million in cash, he sold a company that he owned 49% of for 75 million in newly-issued shares in a very young and volatile company that historically averaged a daily trading volume of around 3,000 shares.

Earnings

In an interview, Lame revealed that he can make up to $750,000 per video clip, earning him around $10 million in 2022. He earned $17 million in 2023. Today, he earns $20-40 million per year from his various endeavors combined.

Early Life

Khabane "Khaby" Lame was born on March 9, 2000, in Senegal. When he was an infant, his family relocated to Italy in search of better economic opportunities. They eventually settled in Chivasso, a town near Turin, where Khaby grew up in public housing alongside his siblings.

Life in Italy was modest, and before his rise to fame, Lame followed a conventional path. After finishing school, he worked as a factory laborer, earning a steady but unremarkable income. His life changed abruptly in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down large portions of Italy's manufacturing sector, leaving him unemployed and stuck at home.

TikTok Breakthrough

During lockdown, Lame began posting videos on TikTok simply to pass the time. Early attempts included dance trends and standard short-form content, but none gained traction. His breakthrough came when he discovered a format that felt natural and authentic. Instead of trying to impress, he reacted to viral "life hack" videos that solved simple problems in absurdly complicated ways.

Without speaking, Lame would silently demonstrate the obvious solution, finishing with his now-iconic palms-up gesture and bemused expression. The format was instantly relatable and required no translation, making it perfect for global audiences. The videos spread rapidly, first across Italy and Europe, then worldwide.

Within months, his follower count exploded. What started as casual experimentation turned into one of the fastest audience growth stories in TikTok history. His rise was especially notable because it did not rely on language, controversy, or shock value, only clear visual humor and consistency.

Social Media Dominance

As his popularity surged, Lame became one of the most-followed creators on TikTok and amassed a massive audience on Instagram as well. For a significant stretch, he held the position of the most-followed person on TikTok, overtaking creators who had dominated the platform since its early days.

His content remained intentionally simple even as production values increased. Unlike many influencers who pivot to scripted skits or elaborate collaborations, Lame stayed close to the formula that made him famous. This restraint helped preserve authenticity and kept his videos instantly recognizable in crowded feeds.

(Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)

Earnings and Business Ventures

Khaby Lame's viral fame translated into extraordinary earnings. He has stated that branded video clips can command fees approaching $750,000 per post, placing him among the highest-paid creators in the world. Across sponsorships, endorsements, appearances, and merchandise, his annual income has reached into the tens of millions of dollars.

Brands value Lame not only for his reach but also for his brand safety and cross-cultural appeal. His partnerships span fashion, technology, consumer goods, and luxury brands. In addition to sponsorships, he has launched merchandise sold through his social platforms, including novelty products and branded apparel that lean into his minimalist humor.

These diversified income streams have helped turn fleeting viral success into sustained financial power.

Film, Fashion, and Media Appearances

As his profile grew, Lame began crossing into traditional entertainment and fashion. He has appeared at major fashion events and collaborated with luxury designers, becoming a regular presence at international runway shows. His distinctive persona translated well beyond social media, allowing him to participate in campaigns that blurred the line between influencer and celebrity.

He also made a voice cameo in the Italian-dubbed version of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," marking a symbolic step into mainstream film culture.

Citizenship and Personal Life

Despite having lived in Italy since infancy, Lame was not automatically granted Italian citizenship, a quirk of the country's legal system. For years, this complicated international travel and visa access. In August 2022, he officially became an Italian citizen in Chivasso, resolving a long-standing obstacle in his personal and professional life.

In October 2020, he became engaged to Zaira Nucci. While he keeps his private life relatively low-key compared to many influencers, his personal story remains closely tied to his public image as a grounded, self-made success.

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