In just three years, Khaby Lame has become the most popular TikToker in the world with over 160 million fans – without him saying a single word. Brands are already paying the quiet comedian a fortune to share his magic. Our motherboard, the American motherboard Forbes An article about one of the world’s most successful digital content producers.
Khabani “Khabi” Lammy sneaks into a modern mansion, evades armed guards and breaks into a hidden vault full of loot. But before you think twice, the Italian flu — or the world’s most followed person — hasn’t suddenly become a criminal. Lammy, who has been working An auto mechanic at a factory near Turin for four years, he was the face of the online video game Fortnite, which has 230 million players.
“When I started producing videos, people asked me to get a regular job,” he says. “But I kept going because I loved doing it.” Even if no one is watching them.”
All eyes are now on Javi Lamy. He posts short, funny clips, parodies of popular memes, and makes fun of complicated stunts online. For example, the chef who peels bananas with fancy knife cuts, or the DIY inventor who uses a homemade robot instead of reaching for toilet paper.
Since being noticed during the coronavirus outbreak, Lame’s two-minute TikToks have attracted 2.4 billion likes and 162 million followers — more than three times the population of Italy. He has 80 million followers on Instagram. He has amassed such a huge fan base without speaking a single word: instead, he communicates with animated tremors and expressive eyes.
In doing so, he became the Charlie Chaplin of the digital age, the pantomime of memes, whose videos entertain hundreds of millions across languages, borders and cultures.
Silence is golden
This year, Lame has made TikTok videos with Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise. He kicked penalties with soccer legend David Beckham and appeared in a Super Bowl ad campaign for insurance giant State Farm.
Allison Griffin, State Farm’s marketing director, said the company partnered with Khaby because he was the most popular TikToker in the United States. Plus, its image is safe for the brand, and they can think about it for the long term. “115 million people watched the Super Bowl,” Griffin says. – Our main TikTok video with Javi reached 220 million views, and a lot of people commented and liked it.
For the lame, silence was golden. Forbes estimates it has earned $16.5 million since June 2022 thanks to partnerships with the likes of Hugo Boss, Binance and QNB Bank in the Middle East.
Today, he earns $750,000 to feature a product in a post on TikTok and Instagram.
But money isn’t everything to him, the brand has to fit in with his family-friendly image.
“I decline most invitations,” he says. “I want to work clean.” I’ve never worked for an alcohol or cigarette company or anything harmful because a lot of kids follow me.
Lame is ranked 11th on Forbes US list of influencers. He hopes his appearance in Fortnite will be a stepping stone to Hollywood. In June, his documentary I Am Khabani (his directorial debut) premiered at the Taormina Film Festival in Italy. “I like to write stories and films. I want to become an actor and director.”
