New Delhi | January 29, 2026, 12:48 p.m. IST
World's top TikTok creator Khaby Lame boosts net worth with massive business sale. Khaby Lame deal details reveal strategic shift in creator economy.
Khaby Lame, the Senegalese-Italian TikTok sensation with over 160 million followers, has sold his company Step Distinctive Limited in a landmark transaction valued at approximately $900 million. This Khaby Lame deal marks one of the largest exits in the creator economy, underscoring the growing financial power of social media influencers. The all-stock agreement with Rich Sparkle Holdings positions Lame as a major shareholder while granting the buyer extensive rights to his personal brand.
From Factory Worker to TikTok King
Khaby Lame’s journey began far from the spotlight. Born Khabane Serigne Lame on March 9, 2000, in Senegal, he relocated to Italy as a child and grew up in modest public housing near Turin. Before fame, Lame worked in a factory assembling automotive parts until the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 cost him his job. With time on his hands, he turned to TikTok, posting simple videos from his family home.
His content quickly went viral. Lame specialized in silent reaction clips that mocked convoluted online life hacks. In these videos, he would duplicate the hack, then solve it effortlessly with basic tools, ending with his signature deadpan shrug and finger point.
This universal, language-free humor resonated globally, especially during pandemic isolation when viewers craved quick laughs. By August 2021, Lame had amassed 100 million followers. He overtook American star Charli D’Amelio on June 22, 2022, becoming TikTok’s most-followed creator with 142.1 million at the time. Today, his count exceeds 160 million, spanning diverse audiences across platforms totaling 360 million.
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Building the Khaby Lame Business Empire
Success brought lucrative opportunities. Lame commanded up to $750,000 per sponsored post by 2022 and appeared on Forbes’ 2025 Top Creators list with estimated annual earnings of $20 million. Rather than relying solely on endorsements, he founded Step Distinctive Limited to professionalize his operations. The company handled merchandise sales, global partnerships, and e-commerce ventures, including ties to China’s Three Sheep Group for potential reach to 800 million users.
This infrastructure proved pivotal for the recent Khaby Lame deal. On January 23, 2026, Step Distinctive sold to Rich Sparkle Holdings, a US-listed entity linked to Hong Kong and Chinese operations. Lame, who owned 49 percent of the firm, receives a controlling stake in the buyer and continues leading his company. The deal’s value fluctuates between $900 million and $975 million in reports, reflecting stock-based terms.
Key Terms of the Khaby Lame Deal
The agreement grants Rich Sparkle exclusive worldwide commercial rights to Lame’s brand for 36 months. This covers endorsements, product placements, merchandise, and live-streaming commerce. A standout feature involves creating an AI “Digital Twin” modeled on Lame’s likeness, voice, and mannerisms for advertising and virtual interactions. Such technology aims to scale his influence without constant personal involvement.
Experts view the Khaby Lame deal as transformative. It shifts creators from fleeting sponsorships to equity-backed enterprises, redefining the $250 billion influencer market. Lame retains creative control, signaling a model where stars build lasting assets. His net worth, previously estimated in tens of millions, surges dramatically, though exact figures remain private.
Global Impact and Future Prospects
Lame’s rise from factory floors to billionaire status inspires creators worldwide. His content’s simplicity and cross-cultural appeal bypassed language hurdles, proving authenticity trumps production polish. Partnerships like this Khaby Lame deal with Rich Sparkle could pioneer AI integration in personal branding, sparking debates on digital rights and authenticity.
As TikTok faces regulatory pressures in various markets, Lame’s diversified empire offers resilience. Observers predict more such mega-deals as platforms evolve into e-commerce giants. For now, the 25-year-old continues posting, shrugging off complexity in a complex digital world.
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