Inside the rise of the top 25 most followed TikTok accounts of 2023, from Hollywood stars to lip-sync sensations

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Charissa Cheong,Andrew LloydMar 18, 2023, 18:57 IST
Inside the rise of the top 25 most followed TikTok accounts of 2023, from Hollywood stars to lip-sync sensations

TikTok has been downloaded by over 1.5 billion people.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty, Stefania D'Alessandro/Getty, Emma McIntyre/Getty, Tyler Le/Insider

  • TikTok's algorithm has launched many previously unknown people into huge virality.
  • The top 25 creators are a mix of celebrities and influencers with tens of millions of followers.
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The face of TikTok had drastically changed in just a few years.

The face of TikTok had drastically changed in just a few years.
TikTok exploded in popularity after merging with the app Musical.ly in 2018.NurPhoto / Contributor/Getty Images

TikTok has changed immensely in the short time that we've known it.

The app — which skyrocketed to popularity after it merged with another platform called Musical.ly in mid-2018 — has developed a reputation for its distinctly Gen Z presence, and for lurching creators into the spotlight faster than most other platforms due to its algorithmic feed that doesn't rely on users following someone to see their content.

Young and previously unknown creators like Charli D'Amelio and Addison Rae gained mega-celebrity status on the app in its earlier era of 2019 and 2020, with short dance routines and lip-syncing videos that formed one of the platforms' most popular formats at the time.

Since then, the reach and relevance of TikTok have only expanded. Users of varying generations and with diverse content styles have found success on the platform — from mainstream celebrities like Will Smith and Dwayne Johnson using the app to promote their public profiles, to young comedians creating space for new and experimental comedy that is becoming hugely popular among viewers.

These are the 25 most-followed creators and accounts on TikTok right now.

25. Colombian singer Karol G has 43 million followers.

25. Colombian singer Karol G has 43 million followers.
Karol G attends the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards.Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images

Karol G is a Columbian singer-songwriter known for reggaeton and Latin trap music. She has collaborated with many high-profile musicians, such as J Balvin, Nicki Minaj, and Becky G, across her career.

The artist, whose real name is Carolina Giraldo Navarro, has developed a loyal following of 43 million on TikTok, where she often posts short dance and lip-sync videos to promote her own music.

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24. Indian creator Riyaz Ali has 45 million followers despite not posting in years.

@riyaz.14 ♥️ #riyaz #duetwithriyaz ♬ Gaddi Pichhe Naa #2 - Khan Bhaini

23. Former "Dance Moms" star Jojo Siwa has 45 million followers.

@itsjojosiwa

3 pulled muscles and a giant bruise later….

♬ original sound - JoJo Siwa
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22. Former Vine star Brent Rivera has 46 million followers.

@brentrivera

Jelly tic tak toe

♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey

21. Billie Eilish has built a TikTok following of 47 million despite only posting 16 times.

21. Billie Eilish has built a TikTok following of 47 million despite only posting 16 times.
Billie Eilish attends the LACMA Art+Film gala on November 6, 2021.Michael Tran/AFP via Getty Images

Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Billie Eilish has only posted 16 videos on TikTok since she first joined the platform in 2020, but has still managed to maintain a strong following on the app among her fanbase.

Eilish's few videos on the platform have been very minimal in nature. She has previously experimented with popular filters on the app, and sung along to another creator who was playing her music on the piano on his account.

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20. Former hairdresser Kris HC has 48 million followers.

@kallmekris

What I imagine pt

♬ original sound - Kris HC

21. Kazakhstan's biggest influencer is known as HOMA, and has 48 million followers.

@homm9k

like my last post on instagram: hommm9k

♬ sonido original - ﹟ƒrαмвυєsα˗ˏˋˎˊ˗
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20. Selena Gomez has an impressive following of 50 million.

@selenagomez ♬ [Standard] Healing music 10 minutes(1066638) - wiMu by Sho in Audiostock

19. Younes Zarou's bright and colorful aesthetic has gained him 51 million followers.

@youneszarou Episode XIV: taking off to new adventures #yzfamily ♬ оригинальный звук - DOOMBREAKER
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18. Dancer and choreographer Michael Le has 52 million followers.

@justmaiko back at it again wit the bruddaa dc: @notorlandolucas ♬ original sound - user93843045089

17. Kylie Jenner's Tiktok following stands at 52 million.

@kyliejenner ♬ Let It Go by Keyshia Cole - M
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16. Korean TikToker Won Jeong has built a following of 53 million with his comedic reaction videos.

@ox_zung #stitch #이어찍기 #추천 #fyp #viral #xyzbca #korean #おすすめ ♬ 오리지널 사운드 - 원정맨 WonJeong

15. TikTok star Loren Gray has 54 million followers and a fully-fledged musical career.

@lorengray

Told You So is officially out now

♬ original sound - Loren Gray
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14. Spencer X beatboxed his way 55 million followers.

@spencerx

This trend but beatboxified

♬ original sound - Spencer X

13. In addition to a thriving music career, Jason Derulo has 57 million TikTok followers.

@jasonderulo @noelgoescrazy ♬ Calm Down - Rema
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12. Dixie D'Amelio has 57 million TikTok followers, and has pivoted to a music and TV career.

12. Dixie D'Amelio has 57 million TikTok followers, and has pivoted to a music and TV career.
Dixie D'Amelio.Flannery Underwood.

Dixie D'Amelio is the older sister to Charli, who previously held the title of the most-followed TikTok star until June 2022. Dixie rose to fame around the same time as her sister, but steered away from posting dance content in an attempt to distinguish herself and pursue her own lane on the platform.

The influencer started off by posting comedic skits and lip-syncing content, and she has since built up a successful career in music as a singer, releasing her debut album, "A Letter To Me," in June 2022.

She also starred alongside her family in the reality show "The D'Amelio Show," which premiered on Hulu in 2021.

11. Korean band BTS has a following of 57 million on TikTok.

@bts_official_bighit 책 보다가 세상 힙하게 춤을 추는 사람들이 있다?! #홉온스 with #VERNON #버논 #DINO #디노 #줴홉온더스트릿 #jhope_onthestreet #세븐틴 #SEVENTEEN #jhope #제이홉 #BTS #방탄소년단 @SEVENTEEN ♬ on the street (with J. Cole) - j-hope & J. Cole
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10. Wrestler turned actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson can add "TikToker" to his resume with over 68 million followers.

@therock I just have oneeee more note @madametussaudsusa @khloékardashian ♬ original sound - The Rock

9. Turkish chef Cznburak has 69 million followers on his account where he shares outlandish culinary concoctions.

@cznburak

Czn Burak Diet Burger Sever Misiniz?❤️

♬ Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley
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8. Actor Will Smith has 72 million TikTok followers.

@willsmith

FLY EAGLES FLY!!

♬ original sound - Will Smith

7. Mexican singer and YouTuber Kimberly Loaiza has 72 million TikTok followers.

@kimberly.loaiza

Un tiki tiki

♬ Tiki Tiki - Ptazeta & Lola Indigo
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6. Former Viner Zach King has become hugely successful on TikTok, with 73 million followers.

@zachking

“Paintings have a life of their own that derives from the painter’s soul” - Vincent Van Gogh

♬ original sound - Zach King

5. YouTube's biggest star MrBeast is also huge on TikTok, with 77 million followers.

5. YouTube's biggest star MrBeast is also huge on TikTok, with 77 million followers.
MrBeast has 136 million subscribers on YouTube.Lex Fridman via YouTube

MrBeast is the most-followed YouTuber in the world, with 136 million subscribers, but he has also developed a large following on TikTok, where he has translated his elaborate content on YouTube — where he is known for setting up elaborate challenges involving huge cash prizes — into short-form videos on the platform.

The YouTuber, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has received tens of millions of views on TikTok for stunts such as challenging Dwayne Johnson to a game of rock, paper, scissors for a $100,000 reward, and paying a stranger $300 to fly to Paris to bring him back a baguette.

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4. Addison Rae made a name for herself on TikTok and remains hugely popular with 88 million followers.

@addisonre @sherinicolee ♬ Linda And Heather Theme Song - nooneinparticular

3. Bella Poarch built a following of 92 million after her first viral TikTok bobbing her head became astronomically popular.

3. Bella Poarch built a following of 92 million after her first viral TikTok bobbing her head became astronomically popular.
Bella Poarch at San Diego Comic Con on July 24, 2022.Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

Bella Poarch skyrocketed to TikTok fame in August 2020, when a single video of her lip-syncing to a British rap song and bopping her head up and down went explosively viral, becoming the most-liked video of all time on the app.

Poarch then built up her following taking part in trends and posting lip-sync videos on the app, building an innocent online persona, and a gamer girl fashion aesthetic that she has become known for.

She has also launched a career in music, releasing her first single, "Build a Bitch," in May 2021, which became hugely popular, receiving 446 million streams on YouTube.

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2. Charli D'Amelio remains the second most popular TikToker in the world with 150 million followers.

@charlidamelio ♬ original sound - ‍♀️

1. Khaby Lame's deadpan comedy has led him to be the biggest TikToker in the world, with 155 million followers.

@khaby.lame Bro why you ruined a T-shirt ?It was so easy.... - Fratello perché hai rovinato una T-Shirt?#learnfromkhaby #LearnWithTikTok #ImparaConTikTok ♬ suono originale - Khabane lame
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