Charli D’Amelio is the highest-paid TikToker in 2026, with estimated gross earnings of $18 million. Brent Rivera ranks second at $13.7 million, followed by Jordan The Stallion at $12.4 million, Khaby Lame at $9.9 million, and Mikayla Nogueira at $9 million.
These figures come from the Forbes Top Creators 2026 list. Forbes estimated each creator’s gross earnings from March 2025 through March 2026. Gross earnings are not the same as take-home pay or net worth. They can include income from brand deals, creator-owned businesses, media projects, and other work. Expenses and taxes are not removed.
To make this list consistent, we included creators whose Forbes profiles identify TikTok as their main platform. We then ranked them by Forbes’ estimated earnings. This method excludes creators such as MrBeast, whose main platform is YouTube, even though they also have large TikTok audiences.
This approach makes the results easy to verify and avoids mixing old estimates, personal net worth figures, or unsupported claims about pay per post.
The ranking also shows that follower count and income are different measures. Khaby Lame is the most-followed creator on TikTok, but he ranks fourth here. For a list based on audience size instead of earnings, see Orichi’s guide to the top TikTok influencers.
| Rank | TikToker | Estimated gross earnings | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charli D’Amelio | $18 million | Dance, lifestyle, and entertainment |
| 2 | Brent Rivera | $13.7 million | Comedy, lifestyle, and digital media |
| 3 | Jordan The Stallion | $12.4 million | Comedy, reactions, and food content |
| 4 | Khaby Lame | $9.9 million | Silent reaction comedy |
| 5 | Mikayla Nogueira | $9 million | Makeup reviews and beauty tutorials |
How We Ranked the Highest-Paid TikTokers
Forbes estimated creator earnings for the period from March 2025 to March 2026. We filtered its 2026 creator profiles for people listed with TikTok as their main platform. We then ordered those creators by estimated gross earnings.
This gives the list one clear definition. It does not rank creators by net worth, followers, average views, or TikTok Creator Rewards alone. Forbes’ figures are estimates, so they should not be read as audited financial statements.
1. Charli D’Amelio: $18 Million
Charli D’Amelio is the highest-paid TikToker in this ranking. Forbes estimates that she earned $18 million during its 12-month measurement period.
D’Amelio first became famous for dance videos on TikTok. Her business now reaches beyond short videos. Forbes notes that she completed a Broadway run in & Juliet and returned to YouTube vlogging. Her position shows how a creator can turn TikTok fame into income across entertainment, media, and brand work.
2. Brent Rivera: $13.7 Million
Brent Rivera ranks second with estimated gross earnings of $13.7 million.
Rivera is known for short comedy and lifestyle videos. He has also built a larger media business around his audience. Forbes highlights Amp Studios, his production company and talent agency. This business structure gives him more ways to earn than sponsored posts alone.
3. Jordan The Stallion: $12.4 Million
Jordan The Stallion ranks third at an estimated $12.4 million.
Jordan Howlett, known online as Jordan The Stallion, creates comedy, reaction, and food-related videos. Forbes says brand deals are a major part of his creator business. His place near the top shows that a strong content format and good brand fit can matter as much as being one of TikTok’s most-followed accounts.
4. Khaby Lame: $9.9 Million
Khaby Lame ranks fourth with estimated gross earnings of $9.9 million.
Lame built a global audience with silent reaction videos that make fun of overly complicated life hacks. The format works across languages and countries. Forbes reports that he earns millions from partnerships with major brands, including Hugo Boss.
Khaby is also the most-followed creator on TikTok. However, his fourth-place position here is a useful reminder that the biggest audience does not always produce the highest earnings in a given year.
5. Mikayla Nogueira: $9 Million
Mikayla Nogueira ranks fifth with estimated gross earnings of $9 million.
Nogueira is known for makeup tutorials, product reviews, and direct beauty advice. Forbes notes that major brand deals have followed her rise on TikTok. Beauty content can be valuable to brands because viewers often watch it while researching products or deciding what to buy.
How Do the Highest-Paid TikTokers Make Money?
The creators in this list do not depend on one income source. Their earnings may come from several areas:
- Sponsored content: A brand pays a creator to feature a product or campaign.
- Long-term brand partnerships: A creator works with the same company across several posts or projects.
- Creator-owned businesses: Products, production companies, agencies, or other ventures can add income outside TikTok.
- Media and appearances: Television, theater, YouTube, licensing, and live events can expand a creator’s business.
- TikTok rewards: Eligible creators can earn through TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program.
TikTok says Creator Rewards are based on qualified views and revenue per 1,000 qualified views, known as RPM. Originality, play duration, search value, and audience engagement can affect rewards. This means there is no single rate that every creator earns per view.
For a fuller breakdown, read Orichi’s guide to how influencers make money. Brands that want to manage creator campaigns can also compare influencer marketing platforms.
Highest-Paid, Richest, and Most-Followed Are Not the Same
| Term | What it measures |
|---|---|
| Highest-paid | Estimated income earned during a set period |
| Richest | Total net worth after assets and debts |
| Most-followed | Number of followers on a platform |
This article ranks estimated gross earnings. It does not claim that these five creators have the highest net worth or the most followers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the highest-paid TikToker in 2026?
Charli D’Amelio is the highest-paid TikToker under this article’s method. Forbes estimates her gross earnings at $18 million for the period from March 2025 to March 2026.
Does Charli D’Amelio make $18 million directly from TikTok?
No. The $18 million figure is an estimate of her total gross creator earnings. It may include brand work, media projects, business income, and other sources. It is not a direct TikTok payout figure.
Is Khaby Lame the highest-paid TikToker?
No. Khaby Lame is the most-followed TikTok creator, but he ranks fourth by estimated earnings in this list at $9.9 million.
Why is MrBeast not on this list?
MrBeast has a major TikTok audience, but Forbes identifies YouTube as his main platform. This ranking includes only creators whose Forbes profiles list TikTok as their main platform.
Are these earnings the same as net worth?
No. Earnings measure income over a specific period. Net worth measures the value of a person’s assets after debts. The two figures should not be used as if they mean the same thing.
Why do some older highest-paid TikToker lists show different names?
Many older articles reuse earnings estimates from previous years. Lists can also use different rules, such as including anyone with a TikTok account or ranking by net worth. This article uses Forbes’ 2026 earnings period and a TikTok-first platform filter.
Final Takeaway
Charli D’Amelio leads the five highest-paid TikTokers in 2026 with estimated gross earnings of $18 million. Brent Rivera, Jordan The Stallion, Khaby Lame, and Mikayla Nogueira complete the top five.
The main lesson is simple: TikTok can build attention, but the largest creator incomes usually come from turning that attention into a wider business. Brand partnerships, media projects, products, and creator-owned companies can all play a part.
