We live in a global age where the internet and social media has become the order of the day especially when it comes to connecting people directly with their favourite celebrities.
Not only has social media become a platform to share photos and network with people, it is now a strong channel for business and marketing.
Some of the most popular social media applications include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tit Tok and WhatsApp; with millions of people across the world subscribed to the platform.
Daily Trust highlights some of the celebrities with the highest followers on Instagram.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Legendary Portuguese footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo currently has a total of 405 million followers on Instagram, making him the most followed celebrity on the social media platform in the world.
The superb footballer plays as a forward for premier league club, Manchester United, and he is the captain of the Portugal’s national team.
Kylie Jenner
American media personality, model, and businesswoman, Kylie Kristen Jenner, is one of the most followed women on the microblogging site with about 313 followers. She became known as she starred in the E! reality television series, Keeping Up With The Kardashians. She is the founder and owner of the cosmetic company, Kylie Cosmetics.
In March 2019, Jenner first made it onto the Forbes billionaires list, then further cemented her spot in November, when she agreed to sell 51% of her Kylie Cosmetics to beauty giant Coty Inc. for $600 million.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andres Messi popularly known as Leo Messi is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club, Paris Saint-Germain; he is also the captain of Argentina’s national team. The legendary footballer has a total of 308 million followers on Instagram.
Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Douglas Johnson, also known by his stage name The Rock, is an American actor and a former professional wrestler. Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, he wrestled for WWE for eight years prior to pursuing an acting career.
In August 2020, Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson was named the highest-paid male actor for the second year in a row, according to wealth magazine, Forbes. The former wrestler reportedly earned $87.5m (£67m) between 1 June 2019 and 1 June 2020, including $23.5m for the Netflix thriller Red Notice.
Dwayne has a total of 299 million followers on Instagram.
Selena Gomez
Selena Marie Gomez is an American singer, actress, and producer. Born and raised in Texas, Gomez began her acting career on the children’s television series Barney & Friends. The multiple award-winning artiste has a total of 298 million followers on Instagram.
Ariana Grande
Born Ariana Grande-Butera, the entertainer is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She rose to fame for playing Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon television series; Victorious and Sam & Cat. Ariana has a total of 295 million followers on Instagram.
Kim Kadarshian
Kimberly Noel Kardashian West is an American media personality, socialite, model, and businesswoman. She became known as she starred in the E! Reality television series, Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Like her younger sister, Kylie Jenner, the fashion mogul is also one of the most followed women on Instagram with 287 million followers on the platform.
In April 2021, the reality TV show star became a billionaire. Kim Kardashian officially became a billionaire, according to Forbes, as she saw her net worth soar from $780m (£564m) in October 2021 to $1bn (£723m) the magazine reports. Her fortune comes mainly from her two businesses: the shapewear brand, Skims; and the cosmetics company KKW Beauty.
Beyoncé
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter is an American singer, songwriter, businesswoman and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Beyoncé performed in various singing and dancing competitions as a child. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of Destiny’s Child, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. Beyoncé has a total of 239 million followers on Instagram.
Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian singer. Bieber achieved commercial success with his teen pop-driven debut studio album, My World 2.0 (2010), which debuted on the US Billboard 200 making him the youngest solo male act to top the chart in 47 years. Justin has a total of 221 million followers on Instagram.
