In recent years, cats have become increasingly popular on social media, especially Instagram. Thanks to their cute and quirky personalities combined with professional photography and videography, some cats have garnered millions of followers on Instagram and become bonafide social media superstars. Cat Instagram accounts feature photogenic felines in funny poses, adorable costumes, and irresistibly cute situations. The most popular cat influencers have leveraged their social media fame to earn their owners sizable incomes through brand sponsorships, merchandise sales, and other business opportunities.
What Makes a Cat Instagram Famous
There are a few key factors that can help a cat gain fame on Instagram:
Cute appearance – Cats with unique or photogenic features like big eyes, fluffy fur, or unusual coat patterns tend to attract more followers. People love the cute cat aesthetic.
Funny personality – Cats with spunky, quirky, or goofy personalities that come across in photos and videos tend to go viral more easily. Their antics entertain people.
Skilled photography/videography – Having high quality, well-composed, and flattering photos and videos is essential. Good lighting, angles, and capturing funny or cute moments is key.
Consistent posting – Posting often, like once or more per day, and maintaining an active presence helps cats build a bigger audience faster. Frequent new cute content keeps people engaged.
Top 10 Richest Instagram Cats
When it comes to the richest cats on Instagram, there are a few furry felines who stand out above the rest. Here are the top 10 wealthiest cat influencers on Instagram based on their estimated net worth:
#1: Nala Cat
With 4.3 million Instagram followers, Nala Cat (@nala_cat) is the richest cat on Instagram. She earns an estimated $14,419 per sponsored post, raking in over $200,000 per year. Her total net worth is estimated at around $3.4 million.
#2: Grumpy Cat
The famous frowny faced feline known as Grumpy Cat (@realgrumpycat) earned an impressive $2.4 million per year from her Instagram account before passing away in 2019. With 2.4 million followers at the time, she earned around $11,000 per sponsored post.
#3: Lil Bub
The adorable Lil Bub rose to fame with her big eyes and unique tongue always sticking out. She had 2.3 million followers on Instagram before passing away in 2019. She earned an estimated $10,000 per sponsored post for a yearly income around $300,000.
#4: Choupette
This pampered puss belongs to famous fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. With 180k Instagram followers, Choupette earns between $6,000 – $8,000 per sponsored post. She also has her own makeup and book line resulting in an estimated net worth around $200,000.
#5: Maru
One of the first famous cat Instagrammers, Maru (@maruhanamogu) has over 300k followers. While Maru keeps his earnings confidential, it’s estimated this YouTube and Instagram star cat banks around $180,000 per year.
The other top earners rounding out the list are cats like Oskar the Blind Cat, Venus the Two Face Cat, Smoothie the Cat, and Pudge the Cat. While they may not boast the same net worth and follower count as the top 5, they still bring in sizable incomes from sponsored posts and merchandise.
#1: Nala Cat
Nala Cat is a Siamese/tabby mix who was adopted in 2010 by Varisiri Mathachittiphan when she was found abandoned on the streets as a kitten. Along with her co-parent, Dean Nicholson, Nala has gone on to become one of the most popular and richest cat influencers on Instagram with over 4.3 million followers.
Nala’s meteoric rise to fame started in 2018 when Dean began regularly posting photos and videos of Nala’s expressive face and adorable antics. Brands quickly took notice of her huge following and Nala started securing endorsement deals and launching merchandise.
According to PureWow, Nala has collaborated with brands like Friskies and Chewy. She also has her own line of products including books, calendars, and stuffed animals. Her current net worth is estimated between $50-100 million, making her the richest and most successful cat influencer in the world.
#2: Grumpy Cat
Grumpy Cat, whose real name was Tardar Sauce, went viral in 2012 after photos of her upset facial expression were posted online. She quickly became an internet celebrity and meme known for her permanently “grumpy” looking face. According to Newsweek, Grumpy Cat had dwarfism and an underbite that caused her famous frown.
Grumpy Cat capitalized on her viral fame and clinched numerous endorsement deals and sponsorships. She starred in commercials for Friskies and Honey Nut Cheerios and appeared in ads for companies like Nintendo and StubHub. Grumpy Cat graced merchandising from mugs to shirts to plush toys. She even “wrote” a book titled Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book that reached no. 7 on the New York Times bestseller list in 2013.
In terms of net worth, reports on how much Grumpy Cat was actually worth vary. In 2014, the Daily Express reported that she had earned $100 million. However, her owner denied that figure according to Fox Business. Though an exact number is uncertain, Grumpy Cat undoubtedly earned millions from her internet stardom before passing away in 2019 at the age of 7.
#3: Lil Bub
Lil Bub is an American celebrity cat known for her unique appearance. She was the runt of a feral litter found in a tool shed in Indiana in 2011. Lil Bub has several genetic mutations including dwarfism, polydactylism, and a shortened lower jaw, giving her a distinct look with her tongue always hanging out.1
Lil Bub’s owner, Mike Bridavsky, began posting photos and videos of her online, quickly gaining a large following across social media. Lil Bub has made appearances on various TV shows, late night talk shows, and commercials. She even has her own book and documentary film.
As of 2020, Lil Bub’s estimated net worth is around $200,000.2 Much of her income comes from sponsorships, merchandise sales, public appearances, and licensing deals. Lil Bub has promoted major brands like Virgin America and Friskies. Her cute and quirky looks have captured the hearts of many fans worldwide.
#4: Choupette
Choupette is a Birman cat who belonged to the late German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. After Lagerfeld’s death in 2019, Choupette inherited part of his estimated $200 million net worth.
Lagerfeld was completely besotted with Choupette, who he referred to as his one true love. He treated her like a princess, complete with maids and chefs catering to her every need. When asked if he would marry Choupette, Lagerfeld replied, “There is no marriage, yet, for human beings and animals… I never thought that I would fall in love like this with a cat.”
While the exact amount Choupette inherited is unknown, estimates put her net worth between $13 million to $150 million. Much of her wealth comes from modeling fees and sponsorship deals. In 2014 alone, Choupette earned $3 million from modeling jobs with companies like Opel and Shu Uemura. She also had sponsorship deals with Japanese cosmetic brand Shu Uemura and German automaker Opel.
Choupette continues to live a lavish lifestyle under the care of Lagerfeld’s former housekeeper Françoise Caçote, who was left in charge of the cat’s care. With her vast inheritance and continued modeling career, Choupette remains one of the world’s richest pets.
Sources:
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a43753509/choupette-cat-karl-lagerfeld-net-worth/
#5: Maru
Maru is a Scottish Fold cat from Japan who rose to fame on YouTube in the late 2000s. His YouTube channel now has over 377 million views and over 380,000 subscribers. Maru’s claim to fame is his love of boxes and his adorable antics jumping in and out and hiding in cardboard boxes of all sizes.
Maru first became popular in Japan but quickly amassed fans worldwide. As his YouTube fame grew, so did the opportunities for sponsorship deals, merchandise sales, and television appearances. Maru has been featured on TV shows across Asia and has his own books and plush toys.
While Maru’s exact net worth is unknown, some estimates put it between $2-3 million. As one of the most beloved and recognizable cat stars worldwide, Maru has proven that internet fame can be very lucrative, even for our furry friends.
Other Notable Rich Cats
Some other cats have gained immense Instagram fame and fortune, even if they haven’t quite reached the top tier occupied by cats like Nala and Grumpy Cat. Here are some highlights:
Venus (@venustwofacecat) – With over 1 million followers, this unique-looking cat has heterochromia, resulting in one blue eye and one green eye. She earns an estimated $15,000 per sponsored post.
Suki Cat (@sukiicat) – At over 400,000 followers, this Scottish Fold kitty lives a life of luxury. Her merchandise sales and sponsored posts result in an income of around $5,000 per month.
Cole and Marmalade (@coleandmarmalade) – This brother-sister duo entertains over 2 million fans with their adorable antics. As two of the most popular cat siblings on Instagram, they earn over $20,000 monthly.
Why Cat Instagrammers Get Rich
Cats have a widespread appeal that connects with people of all ages and backgrounds. Their cute and quirky antics are universally relatable. This broad appeal allows famous cat Instagram accounts to quickly amass large followings of devoted fans.
These huge followings present lucrative marketing opportunities for the cats’ owners. Brands will often pay cat influencers to feature their products. For example, the Instagram famous cat Nala Cat has promoted items like cat toys, pet food, and even Cadillacs.
Famous felines also make money by promoting their own merch. Many cat influencers sell branded items like t-shirts, mugs, and calendars to their enthusiastic supporters. These devoted fanbases generate major profits for their favorite furry Instagram stars.
Additionally, popular cat accounts land sponsorship deals and cameo appearances in TV shows, films, and ad campaigns. All these money-making avenues allow top cat influencers to rake in impressive incomes from their social media fame.
