Top 20 Highest-Paid Instagram Influencers In 2023

Influencer marketing is at the top of the list of marketing trends attracting the attention of CMOs worldwide. Agencies widely use this type of marketing to build brand recognition, draw in new clients, and accelerate business growth. 

One of the most significant impacts of influencer marketing includes a change in marketing spend. Businesses now reallocate advertising budgets for digital promotions rather than traditional print and paid ads.

This change resulted in an ROI 11 times higher than traditional marketing spend. In addition, when a brand has the right influencer, they achieve better audience alignment. Influencers are aware of the content preferences and user behavior of their audience. 

An influencer also serves as a translator or middleman, bridging the gap between the business and its target market. In effect, people are less likely to feel that they’re being sold when an influencer shares information with them, and they’re more likely to feel like they’re getting advice from a friend.

Working with an influencer leads to progress from brand awareness to the decision phase quickly because of the engagement and trust between the influencer and their audience. For these reasons, influencer marketing is now a crucial component of marketing strategies and is incorporated into media plans.

20 Highest-Paid Instagram Influencers

It’s no secret that social media has dramatically impacted digital marketing. It takes advertising to the next level by communicating directly with target customers.

The following influencers are masters of this trade and are hailed as the highest-paid Instagram influencers today. 

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano)

Number of Followers: 545 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $3.92M  

One of the most well-known football players in the world, Christiano Ronaldo hardly needs an introduction. For those who don’t follow sports, he’s a forward for the Portuguese national football team. When he was 18 years old, he signed with Manchester United after playing for Sporting CP. In the first season, his team won the FA cup. 

Any sports sponsor would love to have Ronaldo endorse their product, and he excels at it. He does a decent job, unlike other celebs who frequently just mention a company without even bothering to compose a caption. Among Ronaldo’s brand endorsements are Nike, Herbalife, DAZN, Clear, MTG, Altice Portugal, Garena Free Fire, American Tourister, LiveScore, TAG Heuer, Louis Vuitton, and Jacob & Co. Ronaldo is also the face of the football app, Zuju-GP, focusing on the digital soccer community. 

2. Leo Messi (@leomessi)

Number of Followers: 427 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $2.94 M per post

After leading Argentina to a World Cup victory that ended a winless streak, Lionel Messi now holds yet another world record. With more than 67 million likes on his first post commemorating the World Cup victory, Messi shattered Instagram’s record for the most likes on a single post.

There’s no doubt that Messi’s popularity on social media has grown due to being the best player in the world and among the greatest players of all time. As an influencer, some of his brand sponsorships and endorsements include Adidas, Ooredoo, Lay’s, Gatorade, Pepsi, Jacob & Co., Budweiser, Hard Rock International, SIRIN LABS, SikSilk, LEAFTY, Socios.com, Mangniu, Pro Evolution Soccer, Orcam, Messicirque, Saudi Tourism Authority, Mastercard, By Ju’s, Louis Vitton, and J&T Express.

In 2022, it was revealed that Messi is in a collaboration for campaigns with children’s clothing brands, Vingino and PUBG Mobile.

3. Kylie Jenner (@kyliejenner)

Number of Followers:  379M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $1,835,000

Kylie is a renowned figure in the beauty industry and is the proprietor of Kylie Cosmetics. She’s a member of the popular Jenner-Kardashian family that rose to fame due to the show “Keeping up with the Kardashians.” 

Each family member has achieved great success, and Kylie is no exception. She promotes luxury fashion and beauty brands and recently partnered with Balmain to design a line of fashion accessories.

Kylie has popularized brands with younger audiences, like Kylie Cosmetics,  Puma, Adidas, Calvin Klein, Beats x Balmain, Skims, Pacsun, Topshop, Nips + Fabs, and more. In 2022, it was revealed that her brand collaborations include beauty brands Stassie and Kendall x Kylie. 

4. Selena Gomez (@selenagomez)

Number of Followers: 376 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $1,735,000

Spanish singer and actress Selena Gomez has a massive follower base on Instagram and has been that way for years. She began her career on Barney & Friends and rose to prominence as Alex Russo in the Disney Channel television series Wizards of Waverly Place. She went on to star in numerous other films and served as executive producer for the Netflix television series 13 Reasons Why.

She has also released music, with over seven million albums and 22 million singles sold worldwide by 2017. She became the most-followed person on Instagram because of this, and she has since launched a makeup line, a clothing line, and a product company. She’s frequently seen endorsing fashion, lifestyle, and beauty brands. Her brand collaborations include Adidas, Pantene, Coca-Cola, Coach, Rare Beauty (her own company), and Puma. Selena has also formed new collaborations with kitchen essentials companies Our Place and Wondermind (a resource for mental fitness). 

5. Dwayne Johson (@therock)

Number of Followers: 362 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $1,713,000

Dwayne Johnson is a Hollywood actor best known for his role as “The Rock,” but he first rose to prominence as a wrestler on the WWE TV show. He’s well-known for his athletic physique and is frequently seen in action films. This is why he’s an ideal celebrity influencer for health and fitness brands.

The Rock’s brand collaborations and endorsements include Got Milk, Nascar, VOSS Water, Apple, Ford, Under Armour, Seven Bucks Production, Termana Tequila, and more. 

6. Ariana Grande (@arianagrande)

Number of Followers: 355 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $1,687,000

Ariana Grande is another popular young American singer and actress among young teens. She made her Broadway debut at 15 in the musical 13. She rose to prominence as Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon television shows Victorious and Sam & Cat. After Republic Records discovered her YouTube song covers, she entered the music industry. Her single, Thank You, Next, has charted on the world’s most prestigious music charts. This single propelled her to the position of second highest-earning Instagrammer in 2019.

Beyond her music collaborations, Ariana’s major endorsement deals include Givenchy, Coach, Starbucks, T-Mobile, MAC, Reebok, and more. In 2022, Ariana’s beauty line, R.E.M. Beauty, was made officially available at Ulta. As a beauty maven, her “Cloud Smell” fragrance is sold every 11 seconds as a cult favorite, and she has recently released a body care line in tandem with “God is a Woman” – her latest fragrance.    

7. Kim Kardashian (@kimkardashian)

Number of Followers: 344 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $1,689,000

The Kardashian/Jenner family’s hit TV show, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” helped them become well-known. The show brought the entire extended family to stardom, but each member has a distinctive blend of accomplishments today.

Kim was first featured in the media as Paris Hilton’s friend and stylist and is often regarded as the reason the family became well-known. The Kardashian/Jenner family’s reality television program premiered in 2007. Since then, she has established a social media and online presence. 

As a businesswoman, launched business ventures in the past, including, the Kardashian Kard, Kardashian Beauty, Belle Noel Jewellery, Selfish, Kim Kardashian Hollywood!, ShoeDazzle, Kim Kardashian Eau De Parfum (previously called Dashing), Skky Partners Private Equity, Dash Boutique, and Kimoji. Her most successful businesses to date are KKW Beauty, KKW Fragrance, and launched her shapewear business, Skims, in 2019. Kim’s latest brand collaborations include Fendi x Skims and Beats x Kim. 

8. Beyonce Knowles (@beyonce)

Number of Followers: 295 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $1,393,000

Beyoncé Knowles first rose to prominence in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the R&B group Destiny’s Child. In 2003, she made her solo debut with the publication Dangerously in Love. She advertised a Netflix documentary about her life. 

Adidas and Beyonce collaborated to market the Ivy Park X Adidas Collection. Among her other brand endorsements are PepsiCo, L’Oreal, American Express, Ford Motor Company, Topshop, and DirecTV. She has also endorsed brands like Tommy Hilfiger, H&M, and Giorgio Armani. 

9. Khloe Kardashian (@khloekardashian)

Number of Followers: 293 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $1,320,000

Khloe Kardashian began her career in 2007 and became well-known thanks to the family reality series Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Because of its popularity, “Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami” and “Kourtney and Khloe Take the Hamptons” have been made.

As a businesswoman, Khloe is the co-founder of Good American. One of her most recent brand partnerships has been with Good American X Zara. She has endorsed brands like Fashion Nova, Calvin Klein, and Amazon. 

10. Justin Bieber (@justinbieber)

Number of Followers: 275 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $1,281,000

Popular Canadian musician Justin Bieber made the list thanks in large part to his massive fans and followers. He’s regarded as Canada’s highest-paid Instagram influencer. Justin is valued by brands looking to connect with that audience. Among Justin’s biggest brand collaborations are with Vespa, Forever 21, Tim Hortons, and Crocs.

11. Kendall Jenner (@kendalljenner)

Number of Followers: 276 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $1,290,000

Kendall Jenner, a member of the Jenner-Kardashian family, is Kylie Jenner’s sister. She’s also part of the “Keeping up with the Kardashians” television series based on this family.

As the world’s highest-paid model in 2017, according to Forbes, Kendal has done work for several well-known organizations, including Victoria’s Secret and Estee Lauder. Her prominence and broad social media following keep bringing her lucrative partnership possibilities. Kendall has also endorsed brands like Reserved, Stuart Weitzman, Longchamp, Adidas, Pepsi, Kylie Cosmetics, and more. 

12. Nicki Minaj (@nickiminaj)

Number of Followers: 209 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $1,031,000

Niki Minaj is a singer, rapper, and composer who goes by the Instagram handle “Barbie.” Six American Work Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, and eleven BET Awards are just a few of the accolades she has received for her music. She received ten Grammy nominations, however, she has not yet taken home a trophy. 

In her Instagram posts, she frequently promotes high-end brands or mentions them. Nicki’s prominent brand collaborations include Fendi, M.A.C. Cosmetics, MYX Fusions, Diesel, Apple (Beats 1 or AMP), BlueStacks, Luxe Brands, Tidal, Rap Snacks, and Maxim BET. 

13. Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

Number of Followers: 244 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $1,142,000

American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has a significant following all around the world. She has several tracks that broke records and is one of the best-selling musicians of all time. She has won 23 Billboard Music Awards, 12 Country Music Association Awards, one Emmy, and 10 Grammy Awards.

Taylor is known to be selective and tasteful when it comes to endorsements. Among the brands she has endorsed are Keds, Wonderstruck Perfume, Covergirl, and L.E.I among the brands. Jeans, Got Milk?, Apple Music, and Coca-Cola. She has partnered with Stella McCartney, Capital One, and Record Store Day.

14. Jennifer Lopez (@jlo)

Number of Followers: 234 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $1,130,000

American actress, singer, dancer, fashion designer, producer, and businesswoman Jennifer Lopez is also known by her stage name, J.Lo. She established herself as the highest-paid Latin actress in Hollywood in 1997 when she became the first Latin actress to receive over $1 million for a single film. In 2001, she became the first woman to have a number-one record and film in the same week in the music industry, during which she also experienced success.

J.Lo. was honored as Adweek’s 2021 Brand Visionary. She’s a fashion designer and launched her own beauty line, JLo Beauty. J.Lo invests in Goli nutritional supplements, Hims & Hers, Super Coffee, BodyArmor, and Wonder. She pulled in millions on endorsements for fashion lines like Versace, discount shoe chain DSW, Guess, and more. She has also partnered with fragrance company Designer Parfums with which she created about two dozen fragrances. She has worked on brand collaborations with Coach, Designer Brands, Hydrafacial, Kohl’s, Quay Australia, and more. 

15. Neymar Da Silva Santos (@neymarjr)

Number of Followers: 203 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $945,000

A forward for both Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazilian national team, Neymar is a football player from Brazil. He’s a new phenomenon who gained popularity swiftly and is now regarded as a legend among players like Messi and Ronaldo (who are also on this list).

He’s an excellent choice for sports and fitness brands seeking a celebrity to support their brand. Among Neymar’s biggest brand collaborations are Nike and Puma. He has also worked with brands like EA, Gillette, Beats Electronics, MasterCard, and Red Bull.  

16. Katy Perry (@katyperry)

Number of Followers: 190 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $1,029,000

American singer, songwriter, and television judge, Katy Perry, is a successful musician who topped the U.S. Billboard 200. She holds five Billboard Music Awards, nine U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, five American Music Awards, a Brit Award, and a Juno Award. The most watched halftime show performance in history was her Super Bowl XLIX appearance.

She uses Instagram Stories for promotion, which led to the growth of her Katy Perry Collection in 2017. The pop icon has had brand collaborations with Covergirl, Proactiv, Adidas, Coty, Clare’s, H&M, and Pepsi. 

17. Virat Kholi (@virat.kohli)

Number of Followers: 235 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $1,088,000

Virat Khol s the captain of the Indian cricket team. He received the highest Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2018, which is India’s highest athletic distinction. This increased his popularity and drove him to Instagram stardom. He’s regarded by many as one of the top batsmen in the world right now. He participates in the Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers Bangalore and domestic cricket for Delhi (IPL). He’s the only Indian to be included on the Forbes list of highest-paid athletes in the world. 

Virat serves as the international icon for some sports and apparel companies. He has worked with brands like Puma, Audi, Hero, MRF, Valvoline, and more. 

18. Kourtney Kardashian(@kourtneykardash)

Number of Followers: 212 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $964,000

The show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” had Kourtney Kardashian as the lead. She works in the retail and fashion sectors and has introduced a number of apparel lines and fragrances. She has promoted brands and products like waist-slimming trousers, beauty products, Coca-Cola, and prescription medications on Instagram. Kourtney’s brand collabs include Boohoo, Poosh x Vital Proteins, and more. 

19. Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus)

Number of Followers: 196 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $928,000

American singer-songwriter, actress, and record producer Miley Ray Cyrus rose to teen idol status as the star of the Disney Channel television series, Hannah Montana. She had two number-one and three top-ten soundtracks in the U.S. Billboard 200 as Hannah Montana. She has also had three of her own albums chart at number one in the United States, along with three additional albums that reached the top five. She transformed from a young Nickelodeon star to a full-fledged pop sensation.

Miley’s brand partnerships include Converse, Gucci (as the face of Gucci’s Flora Gorgeous Jasmin fragrance), Dolce Glow, Marc Jacobs, and more. 

20. Kevin Hart (@kevinhart4real)

Number of Followers: 165 M

Average Price Per Post (Estimated): $780,000

The American actor, comedian, and producer Kevin Hart is a well-known figure in the entertainment industry. He has appeared in several popular movies and TV shows, such as “Jumanji” and “Modern Family.” 

Some of the brands he works with have allowed him to design his own collections. He has endorsement deals with H&M, Hyundai, Fabletics, Foot Locker, Tommy John, Nike, Old Spice, and more. Kevin also has some lucrative sponsorships with Chase and launched two businesses: a streaming service called Laugh Out Loud, and a production company HartBeat Productions. 

How To Grow Your Following On Instagram

When looking at the highest-paid Instagram influencers, it’s no secret that business opportunities begin with growing on the platform by getting real followers on Instagram. Although it takes hard work to grow followers, there are some practical ways to get started. 

Automate Your Instagram Growth

To help you improve the efficiency of your Instagram efforts, it’s helpful to use an Instagram growth service because it can help you increase your revenue, establish your brand, and build your Instagram audience. The Instagram growth tool acts on your behalf in liking, following, and commenting at scale so you can focus on what really matters: running your business. Also, the right Instagram growth tool can ensure that you grow Instagram organically. 

Engage With Your Audience

In building your brand community, engagement is a priority. To get more engagement, try including these tried-and-tested tactics in your Instagram marketing mix: 

• Relatable memes and Stories stickers
• Create shareable and informative carousel posts and graphics
• Include CTAs in your posts
• Host a contest or giveaway
• Use Instagram Reels for collabs
• Use relevant hashtags
• Write captivating captions
• Post at the best times when your audience is engaged

Curate High-Quality Content

Growing your Instagram following also means that your feed should be cohesive. In other words, it should make sense. People who visit your profile should know what your content is about so they can decide whether to choose to follow you or not. A curated Instagram feed should have a consistent subject matter, lighting, color palette, mood, and overall style or vibe.

How Do Influencers Make Money On Instagram?

Instagram’s reach and influence provide creators with the chance to explore multiple revenue streams. So, if you’re wondering how they get paid on Instagram and monetize their social media presence, read on to find out. 

Sponsored Posts

One of the most common ways for influencers to earn money is through sponsored posts. An influencer gets paid to promote a product or service on their page. And this is why investing in an anchor camera for Instagram to capture great photos for your product’s endorsements to make it more enticing to the followers. When an influencer endorses a brand, followers are more likely to believe it.

Just remember to be honest about your involvement in paid partnerships and sponsored content. Use hashtags to indicate that the content is sponsored, and make the collaboration evident in the captions. Instagram’s branded content guidelines should be adhered to; else, postings may be removed.

Affiliate Marketing

In affiliate marketing, influencers connect with a company that offers specific products or experiences. This is related to brand partnerships. In essence, affiliate networks pay content creators to promote other people’s goods, but ensure that the products are in line with the influencer’s principles. Content creators are compensated if their followers make a purchase from the brand using the creator’s link or promotional code.

Influencers generate affiliate links or discount codes offered by brands to generate sales using sites like Instagram. These links are now simpler to add. All users of Instagram now have access to the link sticker feature in Stories, regardless of their follower count or verification status.

Selling Their Own Products

By this point, it may sound as though the only way an Influencer can earn money is by selling out and collaborating with other brands.

However, all creators are in an excellent position to “sell out” with their goods and services, tangible or digital, which can serve as an extension of their brands and help them establish a business focused on their audience. 

You won’t have to worry about incorporating messaging from other brands into your posting strategy if you only offer your own products. Even better, you can advertise your own brand on the goods you sell.

By purchasing from you that they can feel good about, followers may express their support for you and your work.

Become An Insta Icon

It’s challenging to be an Instagram icon.

Every name on this list has put in a lot of effort to hold onto their position and grow their influence. But there are also many advantages to taking this difficult path. A person might boost their earnings if they’re more personable and authentic.