Silent comedy king Khaby Lame cashes in, selling global brand to Hong Kong firm
Milan, Italy | Web Desk: TikTok sensation Khaby Lame, known for his silent comedic videos and dubbed the “king of silent humor,” has sold his company Step Distinctive Limited for $975 million. The deal marks a monumental step in Lame’s journey from factory worker to global social media icon.
Lame, of Senegalese-Italian origin, rose to fame during the COVID-19 pandemic after losing his factory job. His wordless, expressive style, reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin, quickly amassed over 161 million TikTok followers and 77 million Instagram followers.
The buyer, Hong Kong-listed holding firm Rich Sparkle, will oversee Lame’s commercial brand, advertising contracts, and global operations. Notably, China’s Anhui Xiaohuang Network Technology will serve as Lame’s exclusive operating partner for 36 months, supporting his commercial ventures worldwide.
In a groundbreaking twist, Lame has licensed his face ID, voice ID, and signature gestures for AI digital twin creation, allowing his iconic humor to be automatically reproduced in multiple languages in the future.
The company projects annual sales exceeding $4 billion, targeting US, Middle East, and Southeast Asia markets, underscoring Khaby Lame’s unprecedented influence as a global social media entrepreneur.
