50 Top Influencers by Industry

Gone are the days when television commercials, magazines, and newspaper advertisements were the primary sources for discovering the latest products and trends. With the decline of traditional media, social media platforms have taken their place. Social media influencers have become the leading authorities on new product releases and innovations, especially among adolescents and young adults. LLC Attorney has analyzed various social media profiles to identify the top influencers across 50 different industries.

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The OG Social Media Influencers

The concept of influencers in society is not new, but their level of influence has reached unprecedented heights due to rapid technological advancements. Just a couple of decades ago, traditional celebrities were the primary figures influencing fashion choices and brand preferences. Networks like MTV played a significant role in shaping popular culture in the 2000s. However, with the explosion of the internet, anyone with access could suddenly share their thoughts with the world. Early social media platforms like YouTube and MySpace paved the way for bloggers and vloggers, permanently transforming the landscape of marketing and influencing.

In 2003, MySpace launched and became the first mainstream social media platform. It was notable for providing a networking space for musicians to promote their music and quickly gained popularity. At one point, it even surpassed Google in the number of yearly visitors in the United States. MySpace allowed users to blog and customize their profiles, which led to the rise of many social media personalities during this time.

One notable figure was Tila Tequila, whose real name is Thien Thanh Thi Nguyen. She gained significant fame on MySpace, enabling her to create a successful television show, “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila,” airing for two seasons.

Another influential MySpace user was Jeffree Star. He started as an independent musician on the platform and developed a cult following. Eventually, Star transitioned to becoming a beauty influencer on YouTube and launched a popular makeup brand called Jeffree Star Cosmetics.

In 2005, YouTube was created by three former PayPal employees. A year later, Google acquired the platform. One of the first YouTube channels to achieve widespread success was Smosh, launched in 2005 by two best friends, Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox. They uploaded videos featuring their comedic skits and lip-syncing, including one video that became the most viewed YouTube video, with 25 million views.

Fred is the name of the internet personality and YouTube channel created by actor Lucas Cruikshank, which began in 2006. Cruikshank uploaded comedy skits featuring Fred Figglehorn, a sixth-grade boy who discusses his school life and everyday challenges. These videos gained such popularity that Fred became the first channel on YouTube to reach one million subscribers in 2009.

Another famous early YouTuber was Ryan Higa, who posted comedy skits on his channel, Nigahiga. Although Higa has since left YouTube, his influence shaped the vlogging landscape for years.

After the success of MySpace and YouTube, Instagram emerged in 2010. While MySpace focused heavily on written storytelling and YouTube emphasized video storytelling, Instagram filled the gap of visual storytelling as a simple picture-sharing platform. This allowed users to connect and share product recommendations, helping companies understand how they could leverage social media to benefit their brands.

In 2011, the live-streaming platform Twitch was created, enabling streamers to connect with their audiences in real time while engaging in activities like gaming and chatting. Then, in 2016, TikTok was launched as a short-form video-sharing network featuring videos that typically last between 15 to 60 seconds. Arguably, TikTok has since shaped the influencer and marketing industry more than any other social media platform.

Becoming an Influencer

For many influencers, social media transformed their day jobs or viral moments into opportunities for profitable content creation. They were able to build a following, start a business, establish their identity as a recognizable brand name, and rise to become a leading figure in their industry.

Who Are the Top Influencers on Social Media by Industry?

Influencers can be found in every corner of the internet. Platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and Tumblr have allowed everyday people to share their lives, thoughts, ideas, and knowledge with just the click of a button. As a result, many users have taken this opportunity to express their passions and expertise across various fields, including medicine, cooking, business, crafting, and countless other niches. Over time, some individuals have become leaders and prominent figures in their areas as their followings and influence have grown.

Accommodation and Food Services

Administration and Business

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

Construction, Manufacturing, and Engineering

Education

Energy and Environment

Health and Fitness

Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate

Professional Services

Science and Technology

Transportation and Logistics

• Platforms were excluded if an influencer had fewer than 1,000 followers on them.
• Follower counts were collected in December 2024.

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