TikTok: How much money can the biggest stars make from their posts?

Building a following on the social media platform can be quite a lucrative business

Amid concerns that TikTok will soon be banned by President Trump, Forbes has released a list of the social media platform’s seven highest-earning users, showing how teenagers have managed to accrue millions of dollars by using the platform.

Addison Rae Easterling, the social media celebrity in first place on the list, should come as no surprise to users of the app, who are likely to have seen the 19-year-old’s viral dance clips.

According to Forbes, Easterling, who has more than 54m followers on the video app, earned more than $5m last year from her TikTok content, as well as deals with American Eagle and Spotify.

“TikTok is what got me to where I am,” Easterling told the outlet, which only took into account stars it said are “native to TikTok”.

Following Easterling on the list is Charli D’Amelio, a 16-year-old TikTok star who first became recognisable for her viral dance videos but has since launched a range of branded merchandise, and appeared in a Super Bowl commercial.

Despite posting her first TikTok last year, in June 2019, D’Amelio, who has more than 76.9m followers on the app, made $4m.

Charli’s older sister, Dixie, has also found popularity and fame on the app, coming in third place on Forbes’ list after making $2.9m last year.

In addition to appearing in many of her sister’s videos, and signing joint deals with Hollister and Morphe cosmetics, Dixie has also launched a singing career.

TikTok star Loren Gray came in fourth on the list after earning $2.6m last year.

The 18-year-old, who has more than 46m followers on the app, has had sponsorship deals with notable brands including Skechers, Burger King and Revlon.

Josh Richards, a TikTok user with more than 20m followers, marks the first male user on the list.

According to Forbes, the 18-year-old comes in fifth place after making $1.5m last year, thanks to sponsorships, a record deal, YouTube revenue and merchandise.

Two TikTok users are tied for sixth place on the list of highest-earners with an income of $1.2m - Michael Le, 20, who told the outlet that he is pushing “to be the top influencer on TikTok” and Spencer X, 28, who has more than 39m followers on the app.

To determine which TikTok stars have managed to monetise their followings most successfully, Forbes estimated the content creators’ pretax earnings from 30 June 2019 through 30 June 2020 by talking to “the influencers themselves, agents, managers, marketers and investors.”