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Khaby Lame is TikTok's most followed user, impressing his audience of 160 million with his unique take on comedy sketches. For those who doubt that a significant income can be made simply by creating content on social media, the reality is much different.

The 25-year-old Senegalese-Italian recently sold his company, Step Distinctive Limited, which previously managed his brand, image and commercial rights. According to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the deal was worth a staggering $975 million (£707 million). On the other end of the transaction is Rich Sparkle, a publicly traded holding company based in Hong Kong, who according to the SEC will make Lame a controlling shareholder.

The TikTok star ranked 10th on the 2025 Forbes list of Top Creators, with estimated earnings of $20 million (£14.5 million) via his platform..

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Meanwhile, he generates more income through partnerships with the likes of Hugo Boss, Airbnb, and crypto exchange firm, Binance.

Last year it was reported Lame had self-deported from the United States after being detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at an airport for reportedly overstaying his visa.

Just a month after attending the Met Gala, the influencer reportedly agreed to leave the country after being detained in a Las Vegas airport by ICE on June 6.

However, he was held at the city's Harry Reid International Airport because he "overstayed the terms of his visa", a spokesperson for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement told the Associated Press.

In a statement, ICE added: "Lame was granted voluntary departure June 6 and has since departed the U.S".

Lame's most viewed video - watched 358 million times since it was shared in 2021 - sees him play out a sketch from the back of his vehicle.

The 25-second clip sees Lame point out the importance of wing mirrors.

Lame visited the UK in 2022 where he was on hand to introduce Harry Styles to the 80,000 strong crowd at Capital’s Summertime Ball with Barclaycard at Wembley Stadium.

Speaking exclusively to the Mirror backstage beforehand alongside co-hosts Sian Welby and Sonny Jay, Roman Kemp confessed Khaby’s then-upcoming introduction would be the concert’s wildest on-stage moment of all time.

"To get the biggest TikTok star in the world to bring out Harry Styles is pretty cool," he stated when asked how the concert could top previous years.

"To get Khaby on to do that is pretty cool."