#1 Most Followed TikTokers (and How They Got There)
The TikTok leaderboard shuffles constantly, but a few dozen individuals — across all genres of content — perpetually command outsized audiences and turn small ideas into global thunderclaps. By mid-August 2025, the seven accounts sitting atop TikTok are all generating follow counts that have gone to plaid, but employ wildly different creative kicks — from deadpan reactions to cinematic micro-magic and giveaway spectacles. Here I distill the who, the what, and the moves that made their followings — so other creators and faithful readers can heckle for replicable processes of how we rework modern viral.
Snapshot: Top 7 (quick stats)
- Khaby Lame – ~162 million subscribers
- Charli D’Amelio — ~156–158 million
- MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) — ~119 million
- Bella Poarch — ~93–94M followers
- Addison Rae — ~88–89M
- Kimberly Loaiza — ~83-84 Million Followers
- Zach King — 82M Followers
(These numbers are approximations based on the platform stats; follower counts change on a daily basis.)
1) Khaby Lame – The Anybody Language of No-Nonsense Comedy
Why he’s up there: The Italian social media star Khaby got famous by silently roasting overcomplicated “life hack” videos with a single look, as well as the universal message spelled out in pantomime with his hand, meaning: “So much easier.” His videos require no language skills for them to be understood cross-borders and core-cultures immediately. Both the content and the format are brief, modular and highly malleable — it is even more tailor-made than most casual sports for TikTok’s For You Page. He’s also increased his memorable presence through brand partnerships, appearance opportunities and even occasional jaunts down the red carpet, effectively funneling meme recognition into mainstream influence. Geopolitical and immigration news concerning Khaby briefly thrust him into the media world outside of social media, making his account catch even more eyes through traditional outlets.
What creators can pick up on: Choose one solid, repeatable creative hook and stick to it. Simplicity scales internationally.
2) Charli D’Amelio – Dance Roots, Mainstream Crossover
How she got up there: Charli started breaking through the pop cultural firmament with viral dance challenges in 2019. What set her apart was her cadence of jumping on songs and choreography early, honing in on the music of the moment before connecting more broadly (other creators, brands, celebrity). But by capitalizing on her early momentum with reality-show spinoffs, product deals and merch beyond the dance content fans know her for—dances done on her bedroom floor—Charli diversified widely. A high level of audience engagement has also helped her, with network effects building upon each and every post.
Take-aways for creators: Move quickly on trends, collaborate hard, and use short-form buzz to leverage other revenue streams.
3) MrBeast — Spectacle, Generosity And Scale
Why he’s up there: MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) made YouTube-style grandiosity for TikTok as users watch to see sudden wealth come in the form of mega-giveaways, daring escapades, and cinematic editing. He takes quick cuts of his giant artworks and grabs the attention of viewers with the first few seconds. Their brand is trust + spectacle: it wants the audience to believe that these stunts (and money) are real, and this authenticity drives word-of-mouth. MrBeast used off-platform success (long-form YouTube business) to charge the growth on short-form by pulling in audience across platforms.
What creators can learn: If you cannot spend, double down on an original consistent voice and always find solutions to how you can create unforgettable first 2–3 seconds that no one scrolls through.
4) Bella Poarch — Micro-moment Charisma & Crossover
How she got up there: Bella soared onto the list with a solo lip-sync face close-up that is one of the most-liked TikTok videos — ever. Turning that micro-moment into a music career, professional illustration of herself and other ventures was her side hustle. This medium of high-production visuals, trending sounds and personal approachable moments became the perfect hybrid for her posts that take in casual viewers and convert them into followers. Bella’s arc proves how one flash of virality can be the jump but continued patronage rests on steady selfhood and periodic rebirth.
Lesson for creators: Never underestimate what a single, beautifully delivered short video can do — then chart the 2nd, 3rd and 100th to nail a brand.
5) Addison Rae: The dance star who turned multimedia personality
Why she ranks: Addison began with dance and parlayed her course of action into music, acting, as well as industry. Her plan: TikTok as a launching channel and grow into the kind of deals that keep her in headlines. Her TikTok fans followed her into podcasts, movies and merchandise. Through her consistency during TikTok dance wave 1, along with strategic partnerships and PR — she’s built a huge structural advantage of followers that last beyond a single format.
Take-away for creators: Transitions are bound to happen and you will reach the pinnacle of short-form stardom if you diversify (and most importantly remember): be recognizable across all platforms.
6) Kimberly Loaiza — La diva del regional mexicano, a escala global
Why she’s up there: Kimberly is a Latina powerhouse who won big audience by music, personal content, vlogs and other personality based videos. It’s a reminder that not all of TikTok’s biggest creators are from the US — regional stars can go big too by making things that feel local but are emotionally global (family moments, music, humor). She also judiciously leverages traditional media and music rollouts to direct fans back to social profiles.
What Creators can take from this: Do your core community well — local loyalty translates to international spread when it comes to sharing genuine experiences.
7) Zach King — Cinematic micro-magic and technical skill
How he got here: Zach specializes in micro-cinematic sleight of hand — that magic illusion editing that makes viewers look back. His medium is high-grade production crossed with a super-digestible delivery method: 10–30 second short films with a punchline. What Zach has created is living proof that there’s an audience for tech and narrative, even on platforms traditionally oriented as passive-scrolling; viewers stop, pause, re-watch and share because the payout is simply joy.
Take-away for creators: Create an iconic creative device that will garner replay and share value (for him, it was the magic of the silver screen).
Common threads that built these followings
• One creative hook, repeatable — everyone has a “thing” they can do (Khaby’s expression, Zach’s cuts, MrBeast’s stunts). Repeatable hooks are what scale.
• Opening Frames/0-3 seconds — these are the make-or-break frames when deciding if a viewer stops scrolling. All seven nail that moment.
• Platform literacy and velocity — it is the speed at which they show up and the fact that there are few iterations to trends. Speed multiplies discovery.
• Cross platform — Most convert TikTok attention to YouTube subs, music plays, brand deals and press, all feeding growth in a virtuous cycle.
• Emotion — People are authentic (Khaby), and that is one emotion… others are pure spectacle (MrBeast, Zach)… but all of them made you feel something.
Why The Numbers Matter To Brands & Creators
Brands – these creators offer reach and authenticity. But do it without being insincere; audiences can smell the aroma of an ad a mile away. Micro-activations — product integrations that feel native to the creator’s content—is more efficient.
Creators — Millions of People Don’t Have To See Your Work for It to Matter. Pick A Single Replicable Idea, Post Regularly; Collaborate and Create Funnels to leverage with durable assets (email lists, YouTube merch).
Tactical quick tips (for creators wanting to grow)
• Promote One Creative Hook For 30 Days (different topics, same hook)
• Headline first 2–3 seconds for scroll-stopping power
• Repurpose your top clips as duets, BTS or reaction videos
• Collaborate: Work side by side — audiences sharing with colleagues & cohorts
• Create a cross-platform playbook: what other platforms will you use to house this video outside of TikTok?
(These are tactics I see in the playbook of the best creators mentioned above.)
The significance of the leaderboard
The top TikTokers are more than just a celebrity list: they are “attention economy” case studies. Some climbed by way of simplicity and relatability; others made use of production systems or spectacles. While the follower counts may have fluctuated with social trust trends, beneath it the framework was better as copy-paste: a hook that pops, relentless evolution and ability to harvest attention off-app when opportunity presents. There is only one thing no amount of spending will get you: your perspective. Add these mechanics as the baseline and start to create growth.
Sources & reporting notes
Follower figures and ranks mentioned in this article are directly sourced from latest TikTok ranking lists/followers tracker (lists as of August 2025). News of his most recent brush with immigration-related stories finally lent him a brief moment of mainstream interest, as major outlets reported on Lame and the reportedly false arrest that led to his safe release. Follow detailed follower tables and up-to-the-second weekly changes on aggregator pages.
