Published: 29th, January, 2026 ✍️ Author: Global World Citizen Editorial Team 🌐 Source: GlobalWorldCitizen.com
From Viral Silence To Billion-Dollar Strategy
Khaby Lame, the world’s most-followed TikTok creator, has officially entered a new era of global digital power.
The 25-year-old Italian content icon has sold Step Distinctive Limited—the company that manages his global brand, licensing, and commercial operations—in a landmark transaction valued at $975 million, according to public filings.
The buyer? Rich Sparkle Holdings, a publicly traded investment group based in Hong Kong. The deal marks one of the largest creator-economy acquisitions in history.
Deal Breakdown: How The Transaction Works
The acquisition is being completed through the issuance of 75 million ordinary shares of Rich Sparkle Holdings Khaby Lame becomes a controlling shareholder in the parent company Lame previously owned 49% of Step Distinctive Limited Step Distinctive will continue to be led by Khaby Lame himself
In short: this is not an exit — it’s a strategic scale-up.
AI, Digital Twins & Livestream Commerce: The Real Play
One of the most future-defining elements of the deal is Khaby Lame’s authorization for:
Face ID
Voice ID
Behavioral modeling
These will be used to build AI-powered digital twins capable of running multilingual, cross-time-zone livestream e-commerce operations.
This positions Khaby not just as a creator—but as a scalable digital asset operating 24/7 across global markets.
Why This Matters: Livestream Commerce Is Exploding
In China, livestream e-commerce generated $40+ billion in 2024
The global market is projected to reach $672 billion by 2033 (37%+ CAGR)
In the U.S., platforms like TikTok Shop and Whatnot are rapidly scaling
With Khaby’s AI twin, Rich Sparkle can deploy his brand simultaneously across regions, without physical limitations.
Big Numbers That Define Khaby Lame
160+ million followers on TikTok
2.6 billion total likes
Individual videos exceeding 300 million views
Estimated creator earnings: $20 million annually
Khaby ranked #10 on the 2025 Forbes Top Creators list.
Global Brand Power
Khaby Lame has secured high-value partnerships with:
Hugo Boss (capsule collection)
Airbnb
Binance
Major Hollywood studios
Super Bowl brand campaigns
He has also made high-profile appearances at the Met Gala and global media events.
From Factory Worker To Global Icon
Born in Senegal and raised in Italy, Khaby Lame began posting on TikTok in 2020 after losing his factory job during the pandemic.
Within 17 months, he hit 100 million followers
He is now the most-followed person on TikTok globally
His rise is one of the most powerful digital-era success stories of the 21st century.
Global World Citizen Insight
This deal signals something bigger than entertainment:
Creators are becoming infrastructure AI is turning personality into scalable capital Digital influence is evolving into global ownership
Khaby Lame is no longer just a creator.
He is now a platform, a brand empire, and a global digital asset.