Features, People, What to Watch
These 10 Influencers Are Bigger Than Most Celebrities, From IShowSpeed to Jordan the Stallion
With social media the newest way to make money, influencers are becoming more influential than some celebrities, and celebrities are becoming influencers overnight. The main difference between the two is that celebrities are famous first through traditional industries such as music, movies and sports. Then they influence later. Influencers build their careers by influencing first, and fame elevates them.
Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have created opportunities for everyday people to build massive audiences and turn their content into thriving businesses. As digital engagement continues to rise, brands are investing heavily in creators whose authentic connections with followers often generate more influence and consumer trust than traditional celebrity endorsements.
Their follower counts can be just as high as celebrities’. Not only that, the budgets, resources, and earning structures are now all comparable, with many influencers making around the same range as some of your favorite celebrities.
According to Forbes, the highest-paid influencer, MrBeast, made around $80 million in 2025. While celebrities like Taylor Swift brought in $202 million, Chris Brown earned $74 million, and Stephen A. Smith earned nearly $25 million. This shows that influencers are becoming powerful business figures, but traditional celebrities still hold major financial advantages.
Here are 10 influencers whose reach and content have grown larger than those of most traditional celebrities.
1. Jordan the Stallion
Jordan the Stallion turned grocery store runs into blockbuster entertainment. One minute he’s buying snacks, the next he’s narrating strangers’ chaos like a nature documentary. Somehow wholesome, hilarious, and painfully relatable every single time.
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2. MrBeast
MrBeast looked at YouTube and said, “Why make normal videos when I can casually give away islands, millions, and entire neighborhoods?” His budget makes Hollywood blink twice, then nervously check its wallet.
3. Dhar Mann
Dhar Mann built an empire proving life lessons always arrive dramatically. Every villain gets humbled, every bully eventually cries, and somehow everyone suddenly learns kindness before the credits roll. Inspirational? Absolutely. Predictable? Also yes.
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4. Druski
Druski didn’t just enter comedy; he kicked the door open wearing confidence. His skits feel suspiciously real because we’ve all met those characters. If secondhand embarrassment had an ambassador, he’d probably play them perfectly. He just recently became the youngest person to host the BET Awards.
5. Alix Earle
Alix Earle said, “Get ready with me,” and the internet collectively canceled its plans. She made messy honesty fashionable, proving that glam, oversharing, and confidence somehow belong in the exact same sentence.
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6. Nurse John
Nurse John clocks into social media like every exhausted healthcare worker’s spokesperson. His videos scream, “Patients really did this,” while nurses everywhere laugh, cry, and nod because unfortunately… it’s all too believable.
7. Marques Brownlee
Marques Brownlee reviews gadgets so smoothly that companies probably get nervous before launch day. His opinions carry weight because he actually tests everything rather than immediately falling for shiny marketing buzzwords.
@mkbhd Gaming phones … never change
8. Nara Smith
Nara Smith heard someone wanted cereal and responded, “Perfect, let’s harvest wheat first.” She somehow makes homemade everything look effortless while the rest of us proudly microwave leftovers without making eye contact.
9. Drew Afualo
Drew Afualo collects disrespectful internet comments the way superheroes collect villains. She claps back with confidence, humor, and zero hesitation, leaving fragile egos wondering why they ever pressed “post” in the first place.
@drewafualo go w god though, diva!!! it’s ur life!!
10. IShowSpeed
IShowSpeed treats every livestream like caffeine personally challenges him to a duel. One second he’s screaming, next he’s flipping tables, then accidentally creating another viral moment. Calm? Never. Entertaining? Without question, always.
Featured image credit: @IShowSpeed on Instagram
