The Top Ten TikTok Influencers (and what makes them stand out)

The biggest TikTok influencers offer so much more to the platform than dance videos. Although the famous D’Amelio sisters, Charli and Dixie, got their start by sharing their dance moves, the other TikTok stars bring a range of talent to the platform. Whether it's their editing skills or comedic timing, the most followed TikTokers like to flaunt their raw talent. Keep reading below to learn about the top ten influencers on TikTok, and what makes their platforms stand out.

Why it matters

You may be asking yourself, “Why should I care who the top ten TikTok influencers are. And that’s a fair question. The answer: 1 billion users! That’s right. TikTok recently reached the 1 billion active monthly users mark. Those kinds of numbers can’t be ignored when it comes to deciding where to invest your marketing dollars (whether paid or inbound). If it’s your plan to use the platform as a form of inbound marketing, it stands to reason that learning from those who have been successful on the platform will help.

#1 Charli D’Ameilo (129M)

@charlidamelio

🥳🤪🤯

♬ Lottery - K CAMP

When you first think of TikTok, the name Charli D’Amelio probably first comes to mind. Her viral dance routines have earned her over 129 million followers on the app and 10 billion likes. Since TikTok is known for its dance videos, it makes sense a former competitive dancer would reign as number one. Beyond being an exceptional dancer, Charli might hold the number one spot because she’s charming and kind. In her videos, she has fun just like any other teen. In today’s day and age, she also represents something glorious: a rise to stardom that might be in reach for millions of other teens like her. 

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#2 Khaby Lame (120M)

@khaby.lame I'd like to finish my meal in peace 🙄#leanfromkhaby #learnontiktok #imparacontiktok #learnwithtiktok ♬ suono originale - Khabane lame

Khaby Lame TikTok Video In the bio description of Italian Khaby Lame’s TikTok, he writes, “Se vuoi ridere sei nel posto giusto” or “If you want to laugh, you are in the right place.” Khaby Lame’s talent lies in physical comedy, considering he never utters a word in his videos. This gamble has paid off, earning him over 120 million followers. Khaby Lame is known for creating reaction videos usually to the weird and strange, or fail videos. His expressive face and bewildered looks have earned him over 1.9 billion likes. His face represents what the audience is thinking, which makes him extremely likable and unproblematic. His hilarious videos have gained him more and more followers recently, and one day, he might just surpass Charli for the number one spot. 

#3 Addison Rae (85M)

@addisonre #Inverted ♬ original sound - Agnes Solaru

Addison Rae is known for being a jack of all trades. After joining the platform at 20 years old, she quickly gained over 85 million followers and 5 billion likes. Addison Rae began performing lip sync videos to trendy and viral songs, often including her mom in the fun. Similar to Charli, she grew up as a competitive dancer, and her abilities have gotten her pretty far on the app. However, Addison refuses to stay inside one box and just released her newest single, ‘Obsessed’. She also managed to score a multi-picture deal with Netflix. Her passion shines through everything she pursues, and her fans have responded positively to it. Also, how can one forget her famous friendship with Kourtney Kardashian. Addison is ambitious and willing to work for it, proving she is here to stay.

#4 Bella Poarch (85M)

@bellapoarch To the 🐝 🐝 🐝  #fyp ♬ M to the B - Millie B

Bella Poarch gained 85 million followers by creating addicting and oddly satisfying videos. The Filipino-American TikToker has mesmerized the app’s users through her hypnotic lipsyncs. Almost like visual ASMR, Bella’s rhythmic videos have earned over 2 billion likes. However, many users don't believe she deserves her overnight success. Since her haters keep engaging with her videos, TikTok's algorithm continues to share her clips with more and more people. She never responds to the vitriol, and has even released two catchy songs, ‘Build a B***h’ and more recently ‘Inferno’. Just like Addison Rae, Bella knows she’s so much more than a 15-second viral video.

#5 Zach King (66M)

@zachking They rejected my application to Hogwarts but I still found a way to be a wizard. 🧹#illusion #magic #harrypotter ♬ Zach Kings Magic Broomstick - Zach King

The Final Cut King, or Zach King, wows his audience with his mind-bending videos. Originally famous from Vine, Zach King moved to TikTok to continue his movie magic. Creating video illusions, Zach King has mastered the art of fun escapism. Whether he’s jumping through holes in the pavement or climbing out of a still-life painting, Zach shares his video editing with his 66 million followers. He even has the most viewed video on the platform, which has been watched over 2.2 billion times. Whether it’s magic spells or digital editing, Zach’s sleight of hand has made him a very successful TikTok creator.   

#6 Will Smith (63M)

@willsmith

First and last time I was allowed at that gym

♬ Spongebob - Dante9k

Will Smith proves that if done right, Hollywood celebrities can be modern influencers too. Even though the app historically caters to a much younger crowd, Will Smith’s comedic genius and 90’s rep helps him stay relevant. In May of 2021, he got honest on the app about his pandemic weight gain posting a video showing off his dad bod. Afterward, he documented his hilarious struggles in the gym. Will doesn’t hesitate to poke fun at himself, much to the pleasure of his 63 million followers. Will also gives his viewers an inside look at a lifestyle only the rich and famous can afford. Whether he’s showing off his comedy chops or celebrity status, Will Smith keeps his fans coming back for more. 

#7 TikTok (58M)

@tiktok if u have an fyp u have seen the work of this queen of dance: originator ✨ @Tracy Joseph ✨ #NationalDanceDay ♬ original sound - TikTok (Taylor’s Version)

It’s no surprise that TikTok has its own account with over 58 million followers and 261 million likes. Always staying relevant, the account likes to participate in the platform’s hottest trends to show its support of its own community. The account also likes to shout out to other creators on the app, giving their full support to their biggest influencers. TikTok has shown it’s down to earth by taking part in the app’s inside jokes. Currently, their account name includes, “(Taylor’s Version)”, which is a nod to Taylor Swift’s rerelease of her Red album, a cultural phenomenon sweeping across the app.

#8 Dixie D’Ameilo (55M)

@dixiedamelio i love you guys!!! 🤍#spreadhype #thedamelioshow #mentalhealthawareness ♬ original sound - dixie

Dixie D’Ameilo along with her sister Charli, rose to TikTok fame at the start of the pandemic. Dixie and her sister stepped away from the perfectionism of Instagram by offering naturalism. They let their fans see their dirty rooms and their messed-up TikTok dances. Dixie D’Ameilo's 55 million followers appreciate her keeping it real. Dixie often gets candid about her mental health both on the app and in her family’s reality show, The D’Ameilo Show. Her fans have responded positively to her struggles with mental illness, offering their full support. Dixie also channels her struggles into her songwriting, as she is now pursuing music.

#9 Kimberly Loaiza (55M)

@kimberly.loaiza SIEMPRE JUNTOS @jdpantoja ♬ Unlock it (Lock It) [Jeff Prior Mix] - Charli XCX

Kimberly’s authentic videos about motherhood and marriage have struck a chord with TikTok users. A self-defined “vlogger," Kimberly Loaiza allows her 55 million followers into her personal life. As the most followed Spanish-speaking person on TikTok, her fans adore her sparkling personality. She is a proud mother and likes to post hilarious videos with her two adorable children. She's been honest about her marriage struggles, which her fans more than appreciate. Her first viral video was on YouTube, where she posted a yoga challenge with her husband.

#10 Spencer Knight (55M)

@spencerx

Sound effect beatbox challenge Vs MYSELF!?! Water edition 🗣💧🤯

♬ original sound - Spencer X

Self-described as the “mouth music man," Spencer Knight, or Spencer X, shows just how far raw talent can take you. His incredible beat-boxing skills have earned him 55 million followers and over 1 billion likes on TikTok. His videos are unbelievable, and it’s hard to explain how he makes those beats come out of his mouth. His unique abilities have given him opportunities to collaborate with musicians, Alicia Keys, Sean Kingston, and Marshmello. Spencer X's mind-boggling talent makes him one of the top ten influencers on TikTok. 

“What if I’m not a celebrity or an attractive Gen Z-er?”

Your next question may be, “But what if I’m not a really good looking Gen Z or Millennial? Or not a celebrity?” That’s a fair question, and don’t worry. You don’t have to be a cute teen that can dance to effectively use TikTok. There are plenty of brands, businesses, and even older generations who are killing it on the platform. Keep in mind, you don’t have to have millions of followers on TikTok for it to be a successful inbound marketing or social media strategy. Everyone from Korean dads to proud moms are building audiences. So you can too.

Here's a list of random TikTokers making a name for themselves. Some have millions, others have fewer than 100K followers. Because TikTok is still relatively new, there’s still opportunities to organically grow your following at scale pretty quickly.

• My Korean DaD (2.3M)

• Gary Vaynerchuk (10M)

• ‍I Talk with My Hanks (55K)

• Mrs. Space Cadet (697K)

• Terrance McMahon (247K)

• Her First 100K (1.8M)

• The Mrs. Pedersen (1M)

• Evan Jacobson (411K)

• I am Tabitha Brown (4.9M)

• The Layman Investor (529K)

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