HopperHQ.com has unveiled the top brands dominating Instagram in its latest Instagram Rich List for 2024. First compiled in 2017, the Instagram Rich List has become a global standard for measuring online influence, drawing from both internal and publicly available data. While traditionally focused on the celebrities earning the most on the platform, this year’s list also highlights the brands with the most substantial presence on Instagram.
Leading the list is Instagram itself, with an astounding 674 million followers, making it the most popular brand on its own platform. This puts Instagram ahead of any celebrity by 40,000 followers and ahead of any other brand by 369 million followers, underscoring its unrivalled dominance.
Ranking second on the list is Nike, which has amassed 305 million followers. The athletics retail giant, renowned for its high-profile partnerships with athletes like Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz and footballer Phil Foden, has seen a remarkable 17% increase in followers since June 2023.
Closely following is National Geographic, with a follower count of 283.3 million. The environmental magazine has experienced an 11% growth in followers over the last 12 months, solidifying its position as one of the most followed brands on Instagram.
The top 10 most-followed brands on the Instagram Rich List 2024 are as follows:
- Instagram – 674 million followers
- Nike – 305 million followers
- National Geographic – 283.3 million followers
- Real Madrid C.F. – 135.6 million followers
- FC Barcelona – 127.5 million followers
- UEFA Champions League – 115.6 million followers
- NASA – 97.8 million followers
- NBA – 88.4 million followers
- Victoria’s Secret – 75.9 million followers
- Premier League – 74.8 million followers
To view the complete Instagram Rich List 2024, visit HopperHQ.com.
One of the standout brands this year is the sports media outlet 433, which specialises in football content. The brand saw a 26% increase in followers, securing the top spot for follower growth and ranking 11th overall. This surge in popularity is attributed to their extensive coverage of major events like the 2024 Copa America and the UEFA Euro tournament.
In contrast, European clothing brand Zara experienced the most significant decline, with a 15% drop in followers over the last year, bringing their total down from 55.4 million to 47.1 million. This decline follows a controversial advertising campaign launched in late 2023, which sparked widespread criticism and led to public backlash, including calls for a boycott of the brand.
Luxury brand Louis Vuitton, another major player in the fashion industry, also saw a notable decrease of 7%, reducing its follower count to 47.2 million.
For the first time in the Rich List’s eight-year history, HopperHQ.com has also introduced a Social Media Unicorn Rich List, revealing how much stars earn across all social media platforms.
Commenting on the findings, Mike Bandar, co-founder of HopperHQ.com, stated, “For the first time in Rich List history, this year we have looked into the follower counts of the top brands on Instagram. It’s captivating to see the phenomenal growth of top brands with Instagram itself having a staggering 674 million followers. Similarly, Nike’s impressive 17% surge to 305 million followers highlights the success of the brand’s tactical partnerships, ultimately commanding a global, engaging audience.
“What’s particularly fascinating this year is 433’s extraordinary 26% increase, which could have been thanks to their ongoing UEFA Euro and COPA America coverage engaging football fans globally. However, the notable declines of Zara and Louis Vuitton, with 15% and 7% decreases respectively, underscore the challenges in maintaining digital engagement amidst evolving consumer preferences.
“In another Rich List first, this year we’ve also dived into the celebrities with the highest followers across all social media platforms to reveal the world’s top social media unicorns. This new research has been fascinating as it shows more famous faces, and brands are commanding money across social media platforms than you may think!”
