A TikTok video summary by BellaNaija highlights that Senegalese-Italian creator Khaby Lame has officially moved from viral skits to corporate dominance. Lame has finalized an all-stock deal valued at $975 million with Rich Sparkle Holdings to acquire his company, Step Distinctive Limited, making him a major shareholder in the US-listed firm.
The deal is centered around the creation of “AI digital twins,” which will allow Lame to scale his silent comedy brand across global e-commerce markets without needing to be physically present for every shoot. This move represents one of the largest financial exits for a social media creator in history.
The acquisition marks a pivot for the world’s most-followed TikToker, transitioning from content creation into industrial-scale commerce. Industry experts suggest this sets a new precedent for how “creator economy” stars can institutionalize their brands through advanced technology.
* Vogue Business: “Khaby Lame’s $975 million deal signals a new era for creators, moving away from ad-revenue models toward tech-equity.”
* Rich Sparkle Holdings Official Filing: “The acquisition of Step Distinctive Limited positions Lame as a controlling shareholder to scale his brand globally.”
Echotitbits take:
Khaby Lame has just rewritten the playbook for influencers. By leveraging AI to “duplicate” his persona, he’s solved the scalability problem that plagues creators. This is a massive win for African-born talent on the global stage and a signal that the next “unicorns” will be built on personality plus AI.
Source: BellaNaija — https://www.bellanaija.com/2026/01/khaby-lame-billion-dollar-business-deal/ January 27, 2026
Photo Credit: BellaNaija
