The Influencer Industry is Estimated to be Worth $250 Billion

Internet celebrities aka influencers might be a relatively new concept, at least in the grand scheme of pop culture, but it's big business for many online creators.

Per Forbes' Top Creators 2024 list, which breaks down the earnings of 50 of the biggest creators active right now, the influencer industry is now estimated to be worth $250 billion. According to Goldman Sachs, it could be worth as much as $500 billion by 2027. With more outlets for revenue than before, thanks to platforms such as TikTok, and plenty of partnerships with major brands looking to capitalize on the popularity of these creators, it's no surprise that the industry continues to grow.

The huge $250 billion figure means the influencer industry is substantially bigger than the music industry. As Billboard reported earlier this year, MIDiA Research reported that the music industry brought in $35.1 billion in 2023, although a more conservative figure from IFPI estimated $28.6 billion in revenue. In 2022, per CNBC, the video game industry was forecast to bring in $188 billion.

It helps that there's a significant amount of creators producing content across various platforms, as Forbes estimates there are approximately 50 million people in the influencer ecosystem. Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that there are 12 million full-time influencers in the United States alone, making up seven percent of the country's workforce. When considering hobbyists and part-time influencers, the figure rises to 27 million paid creators.