If you can make it in the world of social media and become an “influencer”, you truly can earn a whole lot of money, particularly if you have a popular Instagram account. There are people earning hundreds of thousands of dollars, even millions, simply by being popular on Instagram and being paid by companies to promote their products, or by starting their own line of products and merchandise using tools such as Shopify or PrestaShop.
Instagram truly provides ample opportunity for major brands to connect with their target audience by utilizing “influencers” who connect with them on a social level. It is these sponsorships that help so-called influencers make eye-watering sums of money day in, day out.
Who are the Highest Paid Influencers?
Although there are no official figures or resources, it has been estimated that some of the top influencers on Instagram can make as much as $1,000 per post per 100,000 followers, with influencers such as Kylie Jenner reportedly banking up to a million per sponsored post.
Here are some of the influencers we think are paid the most for what they do.
1. Liz Eswein (@newyorkcity, 1.4 million followers)
As you may guess by her handle, Liz Eswein uses her Instagram account and position as an influencer to showcase a collection of photos and videos related to New York City and her travels around the world. By estimations, Liz can make anywhere between $6,000 and $15,000 from a single sponsored Instagram post.
That’s not bad at all, especially when you consider that she is the Executive Director of an influencer-related company Cycle that helps influencers like her make their money.
2. Julie Sarinara (sincerelyjules, 4.9 million followers)
Julie is a Californian in her early thirties who was one of the very first bloggers to get herself featured in popular lifestyle and fashion magazines such as Glamour, Teen Vogue, and Lucky. On her Instagram account @sincerelyjules, she has almost 5 million followers and has been reported to charge up to $10,000 for a single sponsored post.
Starting her creative blog back in February 2009, she has since then grown her blog-based empire where she posts her fashion tips and travel experiences. These have become an inspiration for many a wannabe blogger or influencer. At present, she lives in Los Angeles (naturally) and has her own clothing line.
3. Chiara Ferragni (@charaferragni, 14.7 million followers)
Italian businesswoman Chiara Ferragni has managed to amass almost 15 million followers on her Instagram where she goes by the handle @chiaraferragni. She also runs her own very successful beauty and fashion blog called “The Blonde Salad”.
Listed as a top fashion influencer in 2017 by Forbes Magazine, Chiara has been known to charge up to a whopping $12,000 for a single sponsored post. Considering that she has worked with brands such as Chanel and Christian Dior, this is hardly surprising.
4. Cameron Dallas (@camerondallas, 21.3 million followers)
Cameron Dallas is a popular teenage icon who rose to fame through YouTube and Vine back in the early-to-mid 2010s. On Instagram, he has over 21 million followers and an additional 5.7 million subscribers on YouTube.
Not only has he built up a reputable presence online, he has also acted in some movies and has his very own Netflix reality series being released soon called “Chasing Cameron”. He has been the recipient of several industry awards and reportedly charges $17,000 per sponsored Instagram post.
5. Zoe Sugg (@zoesugg, 10 million followers)
You’ve probably heard of Zoe Sugg, also known as “Zoella”. This controversial influencer rose to fame through YouTube and is the sister of the also-famous Joe Sugg (thatcherjoe).
As a fashion and beauty blogger, she has her own product line called “Zoella Beauty”. Her product line doesn’t stop there, though—in 2017 she released her own advent calendar, the cause of much controversy, and has even penned her own book.
Zoella is one of today’s biggest, most notable, and most successful Instagram influencers. She is known to make up to $65,000 per month by doing sponsored posts alone, and that’s before we even consider all the money she makes from her products, other deals, and presence on other websites such as YouTube.
