Social media has given rise to the influencer lifestyle as people are getting paid for brand deals and sponsorships. Luckily, for those who do not like to be in front of the camera, being internet famous doesn’t only apply to humans.
Plenty of pet parents have made accounts for their fur babies and started to rake in the money. But how much can one truly make off the adorableness of pets?
TikTok user @princesshoneybellex shared in a December 29 TikTok video the total amount of money made during every month of 2023. It turned out to be more than the average salary in the United States, which is $59,428, according to Forbes.
The total amount of money this cat influencer made was $74,148 before taxes and expenses were taken out. That is up from the $62,355 total she made in 2022.
@princesshoneybellex/TikTok
On TikTok alone, the cat has over 320,000 followers and another 258,000 on Instagram. Plus, this pet influencer has merchandise and cooking aprons for sale, because, after all, she’s a cooking cat.
This staggering number of earnings has inspired others to have their pets step into the limelight. But gaining a following like this orange cat does not happen overnight.
One TikTok viewer wrote: “WHAT?! I have 7 cats, it’s time to put them to work.”
Another added: “Waiting for my cats to pay their share of the rent.”
“You mean I can quit my job and have my cat paying the bills?” asked a third.
Newsweek reached out via email for additional comment.
How Do Pet Influencers Earn Money?
It sounds too good to be true. Post your adorable pet online and let the cash flow in. While that is essentially how it works, the money earned comes with a ton of time and effort.
Pet influencers make most of their money through sponsored posts. This is a social media post in which a company pays to have it appear on timelines. The company will ask the influencer to make content with a specific product they want to promote.
These furry stars can also be compensated through brand collaborations and product reviews. Then, as a pet influencer gains a following and builds a brand, they might turn to additional revenue sources, such as selling merchandise.
The more followers a pet influencer has, the more money they can earn. Influencers with about 100,000 followers might earn a few hundred dollars per post, according to Pet Keen. The top-earning influencer @jiffpom has 9.3 million followers on Instagram. In 2018, this Pomeranian made $32,045 per sponsored post.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Tyler Fields is your internet guru, delving into the latest trends, developments, and issues shaping the online world. With a focus on internet culture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Tyler keeps readers informed about the dynamic landscape of the internet and its impact on our digital lives.
