A list of just how much celebrities and influencers are able to make for promoting products on their social media channels has been released this week, and all I can say is get ready for your jaw to hit the floor.
Collated and released by Instagram planner and scheduling tool HopperHQ, the inaugural Instagram Rich List revealed that one celebrity at the top can charge up for AU $719,000 for a single post.
"Instagram is now an incredibly effective marketing tool for brands and it's fascinating to see how celebrities and influencers are able to monetise their accounts to so effectively," HopperHQ co-founder Mike Bandar said.
"In the last couple of years influencers and celebrities have really caught on to the fact that endorsing brands on Instagram pays off, and as you can see from our Rich Lists, there is a serious amount of money to be made."
Listen: Mamamia Out Loud discuss all the Instagram habits we're all too embarrassed to admit to. Post continues...
At the top of the Celebrity list sits Selena Gomez, whose 122 million followers allow her to charge up to $719,000 per post, followed closely by Kim Kardashian West, whose 100 million followers grant her the ability to charge brands up to AU $654,500 per post.
In third place is soccer star Christian Ronaldo, who is estimated to charge AU $522,000 per picture.
Kylie and Kendall Jenner take out the fourth and fifth places, raking in AU $522,000 and AU $484,000 respectively.
Continuing the family affair in sixth and seventh places are Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, who, it is estimated, will need a cool AU $326,000 each for those wanting to get their hands on their followers.
Model Cara Delevigne can request up to AU $195,000 per post, while Gigi Hadid and basketballer LeBron James both have a fee of approximately AU $156,000.
And while the figures do get substantially lower in the Influencer list, the sums are nothing to turn one's nose up.
In first place is UK blogger Huda Kattan, who is believed to charge over AU $23,000 per post, while beauty guru Zoella, who comes in fourth on the list makes a cool AU $18,500 for a single advertised post.
And while it's great that celebrities and influencers are able to broaden their revenues, it's important for followers to be offered transparency.
As Bandar points out, "it is important that Instagram users are aware their favourite celebs and bloggers are being paid to promote products and services so they can understand when they are being sold to as part of content."
Please excuse me while I cry into a bowl of Mi Goreng and email my landlord to notify them rent will be late. Again.
Top Comments
Just the modern way of living....celebs have always been paid lots to flog products, the medium is the only difference. Hell i wouldn't say no to doing it if asked....we all have to make a living and it's always very obviously product placement.
It's no different to celebs doing ads on TV. How much did George Clooney get for the Nespresso commercials, or Johnny Depp for those godawful Dior fragrance ads? Of course they should clearly state that they're being paid - although it's probably just easier to assume they're being paid for everything.
Exactly. Instagram is just a giant billboard. I remember when I was little and my parents were getting the front fence fixed. The guy fixing it offered them a discount if they agreed that he could put a sign advertising his company on the fence. My parents refused and told us kids don't ever sell yourself like that. Still resonates with me to this day whenever I see photos from influencers on articles.