The 5 Richest Beauty Influencers In 2022
If you've ever watched your favorite beauty influencer test out a new makeup palette and wondered just how much they are earning, stats site Cosmetify has the answers. Using data from TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, it has combined what influencers earn from all three platforms to create a combined social earning. It turns out that a lot of influencers who you might think are making millions are further down the list than expected, whereas some influencers have soared straight to the top in a relatively short amount of time.
The cosmetics industry that these influencers are involved in has grown at a rapid rate. As reported by Forbes, the beauty industry is worth a staggering $532 billion worldwide, with the U.S leading the pack for the largest market. This is due to the 20% share the U.S has in the beauty market, which is perhaps why the top five names all either come from or currently live in the U.S. From those who have been in the industry for over a decade to those who more recently ventured into it, it's clear that beauty influencers aren't going anywhere.
The richest beauty influencer may not be the first person you think of
According to data from Cosmetify, influencer Safiya Nygaard is the highest earning beauty influencer, earning up to $196,877 per YouTube post. Her YouTube channel focuses on a lot of topics, from fashion and beauty to broader lifestyle videos such as travel content. Originally starting out on BuzzFeed, Nygaard left the company to start her own channel in January 2017, posting a video later that year explaining her decision. Nygaard isn't the only member of BuzzFeed to leave and start her own channel instead — former colleagues and "Ladylike" members Kristin Chirico and Jen Ruggirello also left a few years later to begin their YouTube channel.
Though she has taken breaks in the past where she hasn't posted for months on YouTube, Nygaard still has 9.51 million subscribers. Her Instagram follower count is 2.1 million, and her TikTok following amasses 1.9 million. With these kinds of stats that are only continuing to grow, it's no surprise that she is the top earning beauty influencer.
The second richest beauty influencer owns her own cosmetics company
Next up in Cosmetify's compilation list of the richest influencers is Huda Kattan. Her combined social earning is up to $176,216 for a single post. Starting out running a beauty blog, Kattan founded Huda Beauty in 2013 with her two sisters (via Forbes). The company is now apparently worth a huge $1.2 billion, and brings in around $200 million each year from sales. With sales like that, it's no wonder that Kattan is making enough money to come second on the list.
She posts on her YouTube channel regularly to 4.13 million subscribers, and has over 50 million followers on Instagram as well as 8.2 million on TikTok. In fact, Lifestyle Asia reports that Kattan earns $165,402 on average per Instagram post, a huge amount that definitely contributes to her overall net worth. If that wasn't enough to cement her wealth, Forbes ranked Kattan 69th on their list of "America's Self-Made Richest Women," putting her net worth at $400 million.
Despite his controversies, this beauty influencer managed to be in third place
If you recognise the phrase "Hi sisters!" you'll definitely know who is third on the list (via Cosmetify). James Charles is a YouTuber, TikToker, and beauty guru who has a combined social earning of $145,271. Though Charles has been involved in a number of scandals, he is still heavily involved within the beauty community,
He originally made a name for himself posting makeup tutorials, and collaborated with beauty brand Morphe to create the James Charles Palette, though this hasn't sold as well in recent years due to his controversies (via The New York Times). His YouTube channel still has 23.9 million subscribers, and on Instagram he has over 22 million followers. He is also extremely active on TikTok, where he has amassed 36.9 million followers. It cannot be denied that the influencer has his eye on staying in the beauty industry for a long time, though he does post general lifestyle content related to food and travel too.
The fourth highest earner has also been in the beauty business for a while
Next is another person who is easily recognizable for Gen Z — according to Cosmetify, Bretman Rock is the fourth highest earner on the beauty influencer list. Not too far behind James Charles with a combined social earning of $122,460, Rock is known for his humorous makeup videos. Recently, he's been slaying the fashion game too. He spoke to Vogue about his style, saying that his looks are all about not caring what others think and wearing anything that makes him look "da baddest."
Being a "baddie" is a major part of the Rock persona, and his 18.4 Instagram followers know it. If he isn't posting cheeky shots on the grid, he's getting up to all sorts on TikTok. His YouTube channel also currently has 8.88 million subscribers. Plus, the second season of Bretman Rock's TV show recently aired on MTV. The show, titled "MTV's Following: Bretman Rock," focuses on the influencer living his everyday life and features his sister Princess, a well-known figure who often appears in his content.
Finally, the fifth richest influencer is still making a very good living
Last but definitely not least, Cosmetify ranks Nikita Dragun fifth among the richest beauty influencers. Although Dragun's combined earning is valued at almost $100,000 less than Safiya Nygaard, she still has a combined social earning of $99,505. She currently has nine million Instagram followers and 3.55 million subscribers on her YouTube channel. Though she has not posted on her channel in a year, she does post regularly on her TikTok, which has 14.3 million followers. Despite her apparent step back from creating long-form beauty content, Dragun's place as fifth on the list proves that she made the right moves in the beauty industry.
You may be surprised to not see influencers like Jeffree Star and Nikkie de Jager, otherwise known as NikkieTutorials, on this list. They come in seventh and 10th respectively, meaning they are still making a good earning from their beauty and lifestyle content (via Cosmetify). For now, Nygaard reigns supreme five years into her individual content career with her relatable and engaging content.