TikTok is an entertainment app for creating and sharing short form videos that allows anyone to become a creator and entertain others. The app has experienced explosive growth in recent years, becoming one of the world’s most popular social media platforms. Today, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users globally. Given its massive popularity, some individual creators on TikTok have amassed huge followings with tens of millions or even over 100 million followers.
The goal of this article is to identify and provide information on the TikTok user who currently has the most followers. By exploring the top accounts, we can gain insight into what content and strategies resonate most with TikTok’s audience and allow creators to achieve such high levels of popularity on the platform.
TikTok’s Rise in Popularity
In just a few short years, TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. As of January 2023, TikTok had over 1.5 billion monthly active users globally, up 16% from 2022 (Charles Agency). The app saw massive growth between 2019 and 2020, with a 123% increase in usage in the US alone (Blogging Wizard).
TikTok is especially popular among younger demographics. As of April 2021, about 60% of TikTok’s global users were between the ages of 10 and 29 (Konstruct Digital). In the US, over 60% of teens use the app regularly.
A key part of TikTok’s appeal is its addictive short-form video format. The average user spends about 52 minutes per day on the app. TikTok’s powerful recommendation algorithm is able to determine user preferences quickly and serve up an endless stream of personalized content.
Most Followed TikTok Accounts
TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. With such a massive user base, some TikTok creators have amassed followers counted in the tens or even hundreds of millions. Here are the top 5 most followed TikTok accounts as of January 2023:
#1 – Khaby Lame – 152.4 million followers
Italian content creator Khaby Lame (https://influencermarketinghub.com/most-tiktok-followers/) is currently the most followed account on TikTok. Without saying a word in his videos, Lame pokes fun at overly complicated life hack videos through his signature deadpan facial expressions.
#2 – Charli D’Amelio – 151.4 million followers
American dancer Charli D’Amelio (https://keywordtool.io/blog/most-followed-person-on-tiktok/) was the first TikTok creator to reach 100 million followers. She shares dance trends, personal vlogs, and collaborations with other top creators.
#3 – Bella Poarch – 92.6 million followers
Filipino-American artist and singer Bella Poarch transitioned from the US Navy to TikTok fame with her viral facial expression videos. She now shares pop music covers and original songs.
#4 – Addison Rae – 91.8 million followers
Addison Rae originally gained a following by posting dances to trending audios. She has since expanded into a multifaceted influencer career spanning music, podcasting, acting, and fashion.
#5 – Will Smith – 72.2 million followers
Veteran actor Will Smith joined TikTok in 2021 and rapidly grew an audience through sketches, challenges, and behind-the-scenes looks at his life and career.
#1 – Khaby Lame
Khaby Lame, born Khabane Lame in Senegal, is currently the most followed individual on TikTok with over 142 million followers as of January 2023 [1]. He gained popularity in 2020 and 2021 by creating short silent videos reacting to overly complicated “life hack” videos. His videos showcase him responding to life hacks with much simpler solutions, often using comedic expressions and gestures [2].
Khaby moved to Italy with his family as a child and worked as a factory worker before losing his job in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. With extra time on his hands, he started creating TikTok videos to pass the time. His relatable reactions to silly life hacks quickly resonated with viewers worldwide. While his videos contain no dialogue, his expressive face and hand gestures make his message universally understood across languages and cultures.
A major factor in Khaby’s success is his “everyman” personality that people can identify with. Despite his fame, he continues to create videos from ordinary settings like his modest apartment. This down-to-earth authenticity combined with his comedic timing has earned him one of the largest followings on TikTok and other social media.
#2 – Charli D’Amelio
Charli D’Amelio is one of the biggest stars on TikTok, with over 150 million followers. She first went viral in 2019 by posting fun dance videos to popular songs. According to PopBuzz, Charli was the first TikTok creator to reach 100 million followers. Her fame continued to skyrocket and she became the second most-followed creator on the platform.
Part of Charli’s appeal is her relatable personality. As the Today show reported, she’s just a regular teen who found unexpected fame. Fans enjoy watching her dance videos, outfit posts, and behind-the-scenes vlogs showcasing her life. She frequently collaborates with her sister Dixie and other TikTok stars like Addison Rae. Her family has even starred in a Hulu reality show called “The D’Amelio Show.”
Despite her massive following, Charli has stayed humble and kind. She told People magazine that she’s “still just a 16-year-old girl…finding her way through life.” Her authenticity and talent for dancing helped rocket her to TikTok stardom at a young age.
#3 – Bella Poarch
Bella Poarch is a 24 year old Filipina-American social media influencer who rose to fame on TikTok. As of 2023, she has over 92 million followers on the platform, making her one of the most popular TikTok stars worldwide [1].
Poarch joined TikTok in early 2020 and quickly went viral for her lip-sync videos. Her breakthrough video featured Poarch lip-syncing to the song “M to the B” while making playful facial expressions. This video amassed over 50 million views in under 2 months [2].
Fans especially love Poarch’s anime-inspired style, including her colorful hair and makeup looks. She also shares vlogs, comedy skits, and behind-the-scenes peeks into her everyday life. Poarch’s authentic, bubbly personality shines through in her videos and helps explain her widespread appeal.
In addition to TikTok, Poarch has over 8 million Instagram followers and a successful music career. She signed to Warner Records in 2021 and released her debut single “Build a Bitch” which peaked at #1 on iTunes in multiple countries [1].
#4 – Addison Rae
Addison Rae Easterling is an American social media personality and dancer who has become one of the most popular TikTok stars. According to Wikipedia, Addison Rae is the top-earning TikTok star, earning $5 million in 2021. She has over 88 million followers on TikTok as of February 2023, making her the 4th most followed account.
Addison was born in October 2000 in Louisiana. She started posting dances to TikTok in 2019 while still in high school, quickly gaining a large following. Her popularity skyrocketed in late 2019 when she became part of the Hype House, a collaborative TikTok group. She is known for her upbeat personality and incredible dance skills in her short videos.
A major reason for Addison’s huge following is her consistency and work ethic. She posts multiple dance videos daily, showcasing new trends and her signature moves. Fans love her bubbly attitude and relatable personality shining through in her content. Addison also collabs with other top creators like Charli D’Amelio, further expanding her audience.
Outside of TikTok, Addison has modeled for major brands like American Eagle and starred in the 2020 Netflix movie “He’s All That.” She has leveraged her social media fame to build a multimedia career. But her loyal TikTok fans remain key to her astronomical success at just 22 years old.
#5 – Will Smith
Will Smith (https://www.tiktok.com/discover/will-Smith–tiktok) joined TikTok in 2021 and quickly amassed a huge following. As of February 2023, he has over 68.4 million followers, making him the 5th most followed account on TikTok.
Much of Will Smith’s popularity on TikTok comes from his entertaining and humorous videos. He frequently posts funny skits, dances, challenges, and behind-the-scenes clips. This provides his followers with a fun glimpse into his life. Many of his videos also feature his family members like wife Jada Pinkett Smith and children Jaden and Willow. These family moments endear him to his audience.
In addition to the lighthearted content, Will also utilizes TikTok to promote his films, share words of wisdom, and motivate his followers. His profile highlights his multifaceted career as an actor, producer, rapper, and author. Fans are drawn to his charismatic and energetic personality.
Even controversial moments like Will slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars provided a spike in followers, as people flocked to his profile. This demonstrates his continual relevance and star power. While he lost some brand deals after the incident, he did not lose his TikTok crown. If anything, the drama strengthened his standing as one of the most influential people on the platform.
Secrets to Gaining Followers
The most followed accounts on TikTok have mastered strategies for gaining massive numbers of followers. By studying their tactics, you can apply similar techniques to grow your own audience on TikTok.
One of the top tips from famous TikTokers is to consistently post high-quality, engaging content. For example, Charli D’Amelio and Addison Rae upload multiple dance videos per day to keep their followers entertained. Catchy sounds, viral dances, funny jokes, and captivating visuals are proven ways to capture attention.
Influencers also recommend jumping on trending challenges right away. When a new meme or hashtag goes viral on TikTok, create your own video before it gets saturated. This increases the chances of getting views and follows from people looking at top posts.
Interacting with your audience is key as well. Take time to respond to comments, do live streams, and collaborate with other creators. This helps build meaningful connections with followers who will remain loyal.
Strategic use of hashtags and properly optimizing your profile also gives your account a better chance of being discovered. Study tactics used by top TikTokers in your niche for the best results.
Most importantly, persistently post quality content and engage with your growing community. Apply the secrets of the most followed accounts, and your own TikTok fame could just be a viral moment away.
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, some of TikTok’s top creators include comedians like Khaby Lame, dancers like Charli D’Amelio and Addison Rae, and even celebrities like Will Smith. Gaining a massive following on TikTok requires consistently creating engaging content, understanding the platform’s algorithm, leveraging trends, and building relationships with viewers.
The keys to gaining followers on TikTok seem to be establishing a unique persona, honing a specific niche or talent, collaborating with other creators, utilizing relevant hashtags, and optimizing videos for discoverability. While achieving fame on TikTok relies somewhat on luck and timing, it also requires creativity, persistence, and giving viewers content that stands out.
With its explosive growth and influence, TikTok has enabled everyday people to build massive audiences. As we’ve seen from its top stars, personality and novelty are often greater drivers of success than industry connections or prior fame. For those seeking TikTok stardom, the barriers to entry are low but capturing viewer attention takes skill. By focusing on what makes their content special, creators can better position themselves to attract a loyal following.
