Alex Cooper, Addison Rae, Alix Earle, Jake Shane, Adam W and Ms. Rachel Earn Spots on the 2025 List.
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#Forbes–Forbes today unveiled its 2025 Top Creators List, the fourth-annual definitive ranking of the 50-highest earning, most influential social media-savvy stars across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and other social platforms.
The world’s leading creators are setting new standards and highlighting the power of social media with a surge in brand collaborations and fan engagement. This year, the 50 Top Creators are showcasing their influence to drive global engagement, the list members estimated to have earned nearly $853 million cumulatively, up from 2024’s $700 million – a jump of 18.5%. Not only are their earnings skyrocketing, but so are the fans tuning in – the list makers having more than 3.37 Billion followers combined, up from 2.7 billion followers last year and a 25% increase. Overall, these influencers’ growing impact and reach have become a proof point that the creator economy is here to stay and is not slowing down anytime soon.
For the fourth year in a row, YouTuber and entrepreneur Mr. Beast holds onto the number one spot, one that has yet to be dethroned by another creator since the start of the Forbes Top Creators list. Other rising stars that made their way onto the list include TikTok creators Alix Earle, Jake Shane, Nara Smith, Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper, YouTuber Ms. Rachel, comedians Druski and Adam W, and Addison Rae who recently debuted her first album Addison. This year’s list also included newcomers such as DJ and TikTok creator XANDRA, lawyer and personal finance creator Erika Kullberg and creator and model Wisdom Kaye.
When compiling the Top Creators list, Forbes takes into account three factors: earning, entrepreneurship, and clout (follower and engagement ratio), creating a formula that evaluates and ranks each creator.
“The 2025 Top Creators list is a testament to the evolution and expansion of the creator economy as the global influence these creators hold has become even more powerful,” said Steven Bertoni, Assistant Managing Editor, Forbes. “These creators are no longer utilizing just one platform, many have amassed followings on several different social media accounts and are venturing into mainstream media with movies, TV shows, music albums and more. We’ll continue to see influencers turn from creators on our phone screens to recognizable celebrities with their own brands and business ventures.”
To celebrate the Top Creators list, Forbes will be hosting its 2025 Forbes Top Creators List Launch Celebration at Influential Beach during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in partnership with Lowe’s Creator. NYX is a supporting level sponsor for the event.
To coincide with the Top Creators List, Forbes will also be releasing the first-ever Forbes Top Creators DIY 50, in partnership with Lowe’s Creator, featuring social media’s most influential home improvement stars. To build this debut list, Forbes partnered with creator marketing firm Influential to crunch data on engagement rates for thousands of internet personalities.
Additionally, to spotlight these creators, a selection of Forbes Top Creator list makers will be featured in Times Square on OUTFRONT’s iconic screen, The Cube, on 2 Times Square in Duffy Square.
To view the full list and features, visit: Top Creators, 2025 and Forbes Top Creators DIY 50.
To join the conversation on social, follow #ForbesTopCreators.
Contacts
Media:
Christina Vega Magrini, cmagrini@forbes.com
Feryal Nawaz, fnawaz@forbes.com
