Pixels to Profits: Most Popular AI Influencer Could Earn $16 Million a Year

They may look like a real person and they do real stuff, but AI influencers or virtual influencers are 100% digital, and raking millions of dollars online.

Posting on social media has become a lucrative business, with top content creators earning millions. But there is a new trend emerging: virtual influencers.

These personalities have the same presence and power as regular influencers, but they only exist in the digital world. Virtual influencers may look like a real person and they do real stuff, but they are 100% digital.

RANT Casino calculated how much these AI or virtual influencers could make in a year from sponsored Instagram posts alone.

Instagram’s Most Popular Virtual Influencers: How Much They Could Earn in a Year

RANT Casino utilized Influencer Marketing Hub’s Instagram Money Calculator (as well as each influencer’s Instagram follower count, average number of likes, and average posts per month) to estimate how much money popular virtual influencers could be making from Instagram in one year if all their posts were sponsored.

Turns out that among the list of all avatars, the virtual influencer character of Lu do Magalu created by Brazilian retail brand Magalu could earn the highest amount of over $16 million!

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1. Lu do Magalu - $16.2 million

First in the rankings is Lu do Magalu: a social media star in Brazil with over 6.4 million Instagram followers. Lu is the most followed virtual influencer in the world, yet you've probably never even heard of her.

Originally focused on content such as unboxing videos and product reviews on behalf of the company, Lu now also shares her life and takes a stand on political matters, such as advocating for LGBT rights. Lu is no longer just a sales tool, but a fully fledged influencer.

As one of the most loved and well-known influencers in Brazil, this non-human icon could earn over $16 million per year on Instagram alone.

2. CB of Casas Bahia - $8.2 million

Next up in the rankings is CB, another product of a Brazilian retail giant, this time Casas Bahia. Like Lu do Magalu, CB’s content is not exclusive to product advertisement for the brand; he shares his love of video games, movies, memes and more with his almost 4 million Instagram followers.

This animated virtual teen has the potential to earn over $8 million on Instagram alone.

3. Any Malu - $613K

Third in the rankings is Any Malu: a virtual influencer turned Cartoon Network star who has the potential to make over $600K from her Instagram presence alone. The animated figure from Brazil has over 3 million YouTube subscribers as well as over half a million followers on Instagram.

Originally created by production company Combo Estúdio as a marketing tool, Any Malu began making videos on YouTube and is now the star of her own animated Cartoon Network television show: O (sur)real mundo de Any Malu (English: Any Malu's Surreal World).

4. Noonoouri - $172K

Next up is Noonoouri: a digital style icon who has made waves in the fashion world. The animated character has worked with the likes of Dior, Valentino, MiuMiu, Kim Kardashian and more; a list that most real-life influencers only dream of. Noonoouri also brings awareness to social issues and advocates for animal rights to her over 400K followers on Instagram.

From her Instagram platform, Noonoouri could be making over $170K per year.

5. Leya Love - $152K

Next in the rankings is a virtual influencer with a bigger mission: Leya Love is an ambassador for the “World Awareness Movement” and encourages her 383K Instagram followers to embrace positivity and love the planet.

With the platform she has built from spreading her positive messages, the virtual activist and influencer could make $152K per year from Instagram.