The World’s Most Famous and Popular Personalities

Table of Contents: 

Most Popular Social Media Sites 
Who has the most friends on Facebook
Who has the most subscribers on Youtube
Who has the most followers on Instagram
Who has the most followers on TikTok
Who has the most followers on Snapchat 
Who has the most followers on twitter (X)
Who are the top most followed Influencers? 
Who is the most popular Influencer? 
Who is the most “Influential” influencer? 

*Follower/Subscriber Numbers Last Updated – Feb 2023

Todays Influencers

Remember when fame was something you only read about in glossy magazines or saw flickering on the silver screen? It was like a distant dream, reserved for those with the luck to be born under the Hollywood sign, or with a voice that could fill stadiums. Fast forward to today, and it feels like we’ve stepped into an entirely different reality. Thanks to the internet and the explosion of social media, fame isn’t just for the traditional elite anymore. It’s for the high school jokester who goes viral with a funny video, the bedroom musician whose soundcloud track unexpectedly blows up, or even the local barista who has a way with latte art that captivates the internet.

The currency of influence has undergone a radical transformation, morphing into something more potent and personal than traditional advertising ever dreamed of. In the past, brands would throw millions at TV spots, billboards, and print ads, hoping to catch the eyes of potential customers. But now, the game has changed. We are in the age of influencers—individuals who might have started off sharing their passions from their living rooms or local cafes, amassing followers who hang on their every word, like, and recommendation. 

Influencers have become the new darlings of advertising, not because they can recite a script, but because they’ve built a bridge of trust with their audience. Their followers don’t just passively consume; they engage, believe, and buy. This shift towards influencer-driven content is a testament to the power of authenticity and relatability in the digital age. Brands now covet a shoutout on social media more than a prime-time ad slot, signaling a seismic shift in how influence is wielded and value is created in the marketplace.

So, who are the most famous and popular Influencers online? 

We wanted to find out. So we did some research. As you might expect, the answer depends largely on who you ask or where you look. Our first step? We zeroed in on exploring the most popular social media platforms to gather insights.

Most Popular Social Media Sites:

Lets look first at the most popular Influencers on each of the major social media platforms! 

Facebook: 

Facebook remains one of the most popular social media channels due to its vast user base and diverse demographic reach. It’s particularly popular among users aged 25-34, representing its largest audience segment. Despite perceptions of it being favored by older demographics, it maintains high usage among individuals under 44. The platform’s success is further bolstered by its effectiveness in marketing, boasting high conversion rates and engagement levels for ads. This makes Facebook a valuable tool for brands looking to connect with a broad audience, including a significant number of social commerce buyers. Its capacity to adapt, introducing features like Stories and Reels that resonate with users, keeps it at the forefront of social media platforms

Most-followed Facebook pages as of March 29, 2023.

Youtube: 

YouTube, with its 2.5 billion users, is a powerhouse of global engagement and a key platform for content creators and marketers alike. It’s not just a video-sharing website; it’s where 70% of viewers have discovered and purchased from brands. Its user base spans generations, with a significant portion of its advertising audience being adults aged 25-34. This demographic diversity, coupled with high engagement rates and the platform’s status as the top video streaming app, ensures its continued popularity among a wide range of users, making it a crucial channel for digital marketing strategies​.  (Youtube Stats)

Most subscribed channels as of February 2024

Instagram: 

Instagram has solidified its presence as a dominant social media platform, boasting over 2 billion active monthly users by 2022, a milestone achieved just three years after hitting the 1 billion mark. Its global appeal is evident, with a near-even gender split among its users (51.8% male, 48.2% female) and significant user bases in India and the United States, showcasing its widespread popularity. 

Most-followed Instagram accounts

TikTok:

TikTok has emerged as a formidable social media powerhouse with nearly 2 billion monthly active users globally, making it the 6th largest platform surpassing long-standing giants like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Notably, these figures exclude users from China, where TikTok operates under the name Douyin and boasts up to 700 million daily active users. The app’s demographic leans heavily towards the younger generation, with a significant portion of its global audience comprising women and men between the ages of 18 and 24. In the U.S., TikTok has captured a vast audience with monthly users exceeding 150 million, nearly half of America’s population, highlighting its significant market penetration. The platform’s engagement rates are notably high, with micro-influencers experiencing engagement rates of 17.96%, significantly outperforming Instagram and YouTube. This high level of engagement, coupled with the platform’s creative freedom and extensive reach, underscores TikTok’s unique position in the digital landscape and its appeal across diverse demographics​ (TikTok Stats)

Most followed as of 8 February 2024.

SnapChat: 

Snapchat, with its over 306 million daily active users, remains a key platform for reaching younger demographics, particularly those aged 18 to 24 who represent the largest segment of its advertising audience. This demographic spread, combined with the potential to reach 557.1 million people globally, positions Snapchat as a valuable tool for marketers targeting Gen Z and millennials. The platform’s significant user engagement is highlighted by the billions of snaps created daily, offering creative and dynamic advertising opportunities across various regions, including significant user bases in North America, Europe, and an expanding presence in countries like India (Snap Stats)

Most Followed Snap Chat Accounts

X (formerly Twitter): 

X continues to be a major platform in the social media landscape, boasting over 500 million monthly active users globally, with a significant daily user base of more than 200 million. It’s particularly popular among users aged 25-34, indicating its strong appeal to a younger, digitally savvy audience. The platform’s user demographic shows a slight male predominance, with men using X more than women. In the U.S., the platform has seen consistent engagement, with 23% of U.S. adults reporting they use it, a figure that has remained steady over several years. Interestingly, Twitter is the most popular social media site for news in the United States, with 55% of Americans getting news from the platform in 2021, underscoring its role in shaping public discourse and understanding of current events

Most followed Twitter Accounts

So.. Who Are The Most Followed/Subscribed & Popular Social Influencers?

If you add subscribers from every social account. Here are the most popular accounts!

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 900.5 million followers
2. Selena Gomez – 689.9 million followers
3. MrBeast – 625.54 million followers
4. Justin Bieber – 593.7 million followers
5. Taylor Swift – 534 million followers
6. Ariana Grande – 509.6 million followers

The Single Most Followed/Subscribed & Popular Social Influencer?

Based purely on followers/subscribers, the answer is…

Cristiano Ronaldo

With 900 M total followers, it’s hard to argue Ronaldo’s dominance in the social sphere.

Ronaldo is undeniably a giant in the social media world.

But, let’s not just stop at the numbers. They’re huge, no doubt, but they don’t tell you everything. I think there’s more to the story when you start looking at the whole picture of online influence.

But, Who is Actually The Most “Influential” Person?

Being well-known is one important element of influence, but its a bit more nuanced than just popularity. Being influential means having the capacity to impact the thoughts, behaviors, or decisions of others, often in a profound or widespread manner. This influence can stem from various sources. Influential people have a significant effect on their communities or even on a global scale, shaping opinions, trends, and policies.

So, This one gets a little harder to measure. But, we think there is a clear winner here as well.

Let’s talk about Jimmy (AKA MrBeast) He’s got a fanbase that stretches across the globe, and his videos? They’re hitting millions of views each time he posts. That kind of engagement says a lot. It’s not just about having followers; it’s about having people hang on your every word or video. While Ronaldo’s got a massive audience, MrBeast shows us that being a big deal online is also about how much you’re seen and how people interact with your content. It’s a whole different ball game when you consider the reach and connection beyond just the follower count.

MrBeast (James “Jimmy” Stephen Donaldson )

MrBeast also has an international presence with accounts in various languages:

If we total the followers/subscribers that MrBeast has across each of these major channels.

The total number comes to: 625.54 M

That’s a huge number of followers, but what we find impressive is the reach each video MrBeast produces

MrBeast has videos with hundreds of millions of views. His “Squid Games” video alone has more than 575 M views!

So, Who Is the #1 Influencer in the World?

If we’re just looking at follower counts, Cristiano is at the top of the leaderboard.

However, when you consider overall reach and influence, it’s MrBeast who we believe really takes the top spot.