Khaby Lame Sells Company in Landmark $975 Million Deal

Bassyonni

Published: January 27, 2026 12:33 PM ET

Khaby Lame Sells Company in Landmark $975 Million Deal

Khaby Lame, a prominent Italian content creator, has sold his company Step Distinctive Limited for a staggering $975 million. The buyer, Rich Sparkle, is a publicly traded holding company based in Hong Kong. This acquisition is highlighted in a recent SEC filing.

Details of the $975 Million Deal

The transaction involves the issuance of 75 million ordinary shares of Rich Sparkle, making Lame a significant shareholder. Prior to this deal, he held a 49% stake in Step Distinctive Limited, which manages his global brand and commercial efforts. Lame will continue to lead the company after the acquisition.

Future Projections and Business Strategies

Rich Sparkle predicts that Lame’s brand could generate over $4 billion in annual sales. As part of the agreement, Lame has authorized the use of his Face ID, Voice ID, and behavioral models for developing an AI digital twin. This technology aims to create multilingual livestream e-commerce content across different time zones.

Impact of Livestream E-commerce

Livestream e-commerce is a rapidly growing market, especially in China, where it generated over $40 billion in sales in 2024. The industry is expected to grow at an annual rate of 37.4%, potentially reaching $672 billion by 2033. This growth trend mirrors the rise of platforms like TikTok Shop and the livestreaming app Whatnot in the United States.

Khaby Lame’s Online Presence

Lame has amassed 2.6 billion likes on TikTok.
He is the most-followed TikToker globally, with over 160 million followers.
His estimated earnings for 2025 are around $20 million, making him the 10th top creator on Forbes’ list.

In addition to his social media success, Lame has partnered with notable brands, including Hugo Boss and Airbnb. His rise to fame began in 2020, heavily influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading him to create content on TikTok.

Challenges and Resilience

Despite his success, Lame faced challenges, including a recent visa issue that led to his detention at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. He was granted voluntary departure, allowing him to apply for the appropriate visa in the future.

Khaby Lame’s story illustrates not only the power of social media in shaping careers but also the lucrative opportunities in the evolving landscape of digital commerce.