Khaby Lame sold his company for ~$900 Million Deal,
Khaby Lame Finalizes Landmark ~$900 Million Deal, Redefining the Creator Economy
January 26, 2026 — Khaby Lame, the Senegalese-Italian digital creator widely recognized as the world’s most-followed TikTok personality, has completed a groundbreaking business transaction valued at approximately $900 million, marking one of the largest monetisation deals in the history of social media creators.
The deal centers on the acquisition of Step Distinctive Limited — the primary company managing Lame’s commercial operations — by Rich Sparkle Holdings, a U.S.–listed firm. While initial reports estimated the transaction between $900 million and $975 million, the structure of the agreement is an all-stock acquisition in which Rich Sparkle issued millions of new shares to the selling parties.
Under the terms of the agreement, Rich Sparkle Holdings gains exclusive global commercial rights to operate and monetise the Khaby Lame brand for an initial period of three years, with planned activities spanning brand partnerships, advertising, merchandise, e-commerce, and livestream shopping initiatives.
Importantly, Lame is expected to retain a significant equity stake in Rich Sparkle Holdings as part of the transaction, positioning him as both a creator and a strategic business partner within the new commercial framework.
From Viral Fame to Structured Commerce
Born Serigne Khabane Lame, the creator gained global fame for his wordless, universally relatable TikTok videos, accumulating an enormous following that spans hundreds of millions of users worldwide. His ability to communicate humor and critique without spoken language helped him transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries, while establishing a powerful personal brand.
Industry analysts see this transaction not merely as a sale, but as a shift in how digital influence is packaged, managed, and scaled. By moving from traditional influencer marketing deals toward a more integrated, equity-driven business model, Lame’s arrangement could become a blueprint for other digital creators seeking to institutionalise their commercial impact.
A Glimpse Into the Future: AI, E-Commerce and Expandable Reach
Reports indicate that Rich Sparkle plans to leverage Lame’s global reach to build significant e-commerce infrastructure, with projections estimating the combined operations could generate billions in annual revenue once fully deployed.
In addition, sources suggest the deal includes provisions for developing an AI-powered “digital twin” — an artificial intelligence representation of Lame, using biometric likeness and behavioural patterns to produce multilingual content and facilitate virtual commerce around the clock.
Industry Impact
The transaction has drawn attention across entertainment, technology, and business sectors as a transformative deal in the creator economy — highlighting how influencers with massive audiences can convert social capital into structured commercial ventures with traditional corporate backing.
While Khaby Lame’s rise began with simple, humorous TikTok videos, this latest development underscores his evolution from viral sensation to global business figure, potentially heralding a new era in influencer monetisation and digital brand management.
