Khabane “Khaby” Lame is a Senegalese-Italian social media personality and content creator born on March 9, 2000, in Dakar, Senegal. He is the most-followed creator on TikTok with over 162 million followers, recognized worldwide for his silent comedy videos that mock unnecessarily complicated “life hacks”. Lame rose to fame during the COVID-19 pandemic after being laid off from his factory job in March 2020.
Khaby Lame Biography / Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Khabane Serigne Lame |
| Nickname | Khaby |
| Date of Birth | March 9, 2000 |
| Age | 25 years (as of January 2026) |
| Birthplace | Dakar, Senegal |
| Current Residence | Chivasso, Turin, Italy |
| Nationality | Senegalese-Italian (Italian citizen since August 2022) |
| Religion | Muslim |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Profession | Social Media Influencer, Content Creator, Actor |
| Years Active | 2020–present |
| TikTok Followers | 162+ million |
| Instagram Followers | 80-81 million |
| Notable For | Silent comedy videos mocking life hacks |
Khaby Lame Education
Khaby Lame studied in Italian schools until he was 14 years old. His parents then temporarily sent him to study at a madrasa (Islamic school) near Dakar, Senegal. Specific details about his formal educational qualifications have not been publicly disclosed.
Early Life
Khaby Lame was born on March 9, 2000, in Dakar, Senegal. When he was one year old, his family moved to Italy, settling in a public housing complex in Chivasso, a town near Turin. He grew up with three siblings in modest circumstances.
Lame’s family lived in Italy for over 20 years, but due to strict Italian citizenship laws, he only became an Italian citizen in August 2022 at age 22. Under Italian law, children born to non-Italians and raised in Italy can apply for citizenship in their 18th year. Despite living most of his life in Italy, Lame stated he “already felt Italian” before officially receiving citizenship.
Before achieving internet fame, Lame worked as a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine operator at a factory near Turin. He lost this job in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, which inadvertently launched his social media career.
Khaby Lame Career Journey
After being laid off from his factory job in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Khaby Lame began posting videos on TikTok. His early content featured him dancing and watching video games. However, he found his unique voice by creating video responses using TikTok’s “duet” and “stitch” features.
Lame developed a signature style of responding to overly complicated “life hack” videos by demonstrating the same task in a simple, straightforward way—all without saying a single word. His silent comedy, punctuated by his iconic deadpan expression, shrugging shoulders, and signature hand gesture, resonated globally across language barriers.
His following grew rapidly during pandemic lockdowns. On June 22, 2022, Lame made history by surpassing Charli D’Amelio to become TikTok’s most-followed creator with 142.1 million followers. As of 2025-2026, he maintains over 162 million TikTok followers and 2.5 billion likes, alongside 80-81 million Instagram followers.
Lame’s success attracted major brand partnerships with companies including Hugo Boss, Binance, QNB Bank, State Farm, and Fortnite. According to his social media manager Alessandro Riggio, who signed Lame when he had only 1,000 Instagram followers, the creator was earning up to $750,000 per sponsored post by 2022 and was projected to make $10 million that year. By 2024-2025, he reportedly earns between $400,000 and $850,000 per TikTok post.
Lame has described himself as the digital age’s “Charlie Chaplin,” a mime of memes whose wordless content transcends language, borders, and cultures. He maintains a family-friendly brand, stating: “I decline most offers. I aim to maintain a clean image. I’ve never collaborated with companies selling alcohol, cigarettes, or anything harmful because many children follow me”.
Beyond social media, Lame co-founded Iron Corporation, a creative agency with manager Alessandro Riggio, to oversee athletes’, actors’, and fellow creators’ social media presence and monetization. He invests his earnings in real estate, restaurants, and software companies rather than luxury items.
In June 2023, Lame premiered his documentary short and directorial debut, “I Am Khabane,” at the Taormina Film Festival in Italy. He has expressed aspirations to pursue acting and directing: “I enjoy crafting stories and films. I want to act—and direct as well”.
Khaby Lame Profession
Khaby Lame is a professional social media influencer and content creator specializing in silent comedy videos. He creates short-form video content for TikTok and Instagram where he wordlessly mocks unnecessarily complicated tasks and life hacks. Additionally, he works as an actor, brand ambassador, and entrepreneur.
Khaby Lame Movies, Series
Films/Documentaries:
- I Am Khabane (2023) – Documentary short, director and subject
Television/Web Series:
- Khababy Is Coming to America (2024) – 3-part mini-series on Tubi
Video Games:
- Fortnite: Chapter 4 (2022) – Featured character
Television Appearances:
- Formula 1 – Guest appearance
- 00Khaby – Featured content
Khaby Lame Controversies
No publicly reported controversies involving Khaby Lame have been documented. He has maintained a family-friendly image and brand-safe reputation throughout his career. His citizenship journey generated public discussion about Italian citizenship laws for children of immigrants, but this highlighted systemic issues rather than personal controversy.
Khaby Lame Personal Life
Khaby Lame became an Italian citizen on August 17, 2022, after living in the country since he was one year old. The ceremony took place in Chivasso, a municipality outside Turin where he grew up. He stated during the oath ceremony: “It is not that before signing, I didn’t feel Italian, so very little has changed. But now I am officially Italian, on paper”.
Lame maintains a low-profile lifestyle despite his massive fame. Rather than purchasing sports cars and yachts, he invests in real estate, restaurants, and software companies. He continues to reside in Italy and has expressed that while he has adapted to his new reality, he is “still not used to” the dramatic change from growing up poor to achieving global fame.
He is selective about brand partnerships, prioritizing family-friendly collaborations that align with his values, particularly considering his young audience. Lame describes his childhood as poor but happy, and maintains that core values despite his current wealth.
Khaby Lame Girlfriend
Khaby Lame was engaged to Italian influencer Zaira Nucci, whom he met in Milan. The couple announced their engagement in October 2020 after dating for several years. Zaira Nucci is an Instagram star and social media personality from Sciacca, Sicily.
According to reports, Khaby met Zaira during the pandemic after reacting to one of her Instagram stories, and they began chatting on social media before taking their relationship to the next level. However, as of mid-2025, reports indicate that their engagement did not result in marriage and the relationship has dissolved. Khaby Lame’s current relationship status as of January 2026 has not been publicly confirmed.
Khaby Lame Net Worth
Khaby Lame has an estimated net worth between $16.5 million and $26 million as of 2024-2025. Forbes reported that since June 2022, he has earned $16.5 million through brand partnerships with companies including Hugo Boss, Binance, QNB Bank, State Farm, and Fortnite. Some estimates place his net worth at approximately $20 million.
Lame’s income sources are diverse. He earns between $400,000 and $850,000 per sponsored TikTok post, depending on the campaign. His manager Alessandro Riggio reported that Lame was earning up to $750,000 per post in 2022 and was projected to make $10 million by the end of that year. Notable deals include $1 million promotions with QNB Bank and Binance Crypto App.
Beyond sponsored content, his income streams include TikTok and Instagram monetization, brand endorsements, his own merchandise line, real estate investments, and stakes in restaurant and software companies. He co-founded Iron Corporation, a creative agency that manages social media presence for athletes, actors, and creators.
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