The world of TikTok is not just a social media sphere; it has changed the lives of many for the better, and among them, on the top, is the world's most followed TikTok star, Khaby Lame.
Khaby 'Khabane' Lame is a Senegalese-born Italian social media influencer, popularly known as the world's most-followed TikToker. With over 162 million followers on TikTok, the 25-year-old first became popular during COVID when he posted videos of himself silently reacting to overly complicated "life-hack" videos.
While his videos get him much traction, recently he has been in the news for being detained by US immigration authorities for overstaying his visa, as per an official statement by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He was taken into custody at the Harry Reid International Airport in Paradise, Nevada, on June 6.
“US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Seringe Khabane Lame, 25, a citizen of Italy, June 6, at the Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada for immigration violations,” the agency was quoted as saying.
“Lame entered the United States April 30 and overstayed the terms of his visa. Lame was granted voluntary departure June 6 and has since departed the US,” the statement added.
Who is Khaby Lame?
Image credits: Getty Images
Khaby Lame was born on March 9, 2000, in Senegal but moved to Italy with his family when he was around one year old.
Before beginning his highly successful social media career, he worked as a CNC machine operator in a factory but was laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
This was when he pushed forward into the world of social media with a format that people instantly fell in love with. He would mimic popular life hacks, then perform them simply and end the video with his now-iconic expression: palms up, wide-eyed, silent sarcasm.
In just two years he had surpassed both Gianluca Vacchi and Charlie D'Amelio to become the most followed TikTok creator.
Over the years, he has partnered with brands such as Hugo Boss, Fortnite, Sony Pictures and Walmart.
Additionally, he was a juror for TikTok shorts at Cannes 2022, a judge on Italia's Got Talent in 2023, made a cameo in Bad Boys: Ride or Die in 2024 and attended the Met Gala in 2025. He was appointed as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in 2025, focusing on youth and children's rights in Africa.
According to Bosshunting.com, Lame has an estimated net worth of $20 million. He was also named in Fortune's 40 Under 40 and Forbes' 30 Under 30.
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