Top 30 Most Followed Instagram Accounts of 2023

Instagram continues its reign as one of the world’s most popular social media platforms, with over 2.35 billion monthly active users. 

The question is: what are those users doing on the platform, and more specifically, who are they choosing to follow?

In this post, we’ve rounded up the top 30 most-followed Instagram accounts to find out who has the most Instagram followers in 2023.

As expected, the most popular Instagram accounts are those of celebrities, with a few exceptions. We have one brand (Nike) in our list of most-followed Instagram accounts, and one magazine (National Geographic) that manages to sneak in among the Instagram accounts with the most followers. 

The top 10 largest Instagram accounts are mostly those of musicians, actresses, and TV personalities, but there are also two footballers in the top 10 most-followed Instagram accounts and another one just out of top 20 (he used to be at no. 19 but now he’s at 21). And talking about sports, the top followed Instagram accounts also include a cricketer, a basketball player, and one famous Spanish football club. If you want to monitor trends and analyze the growth of the most popular Instagram accounts, social media analytics tools can help track engagement and follower insights.

But enough chit-chat, let’s dive right into our list of most popular Instagram accounts!

Top 30 Most Followed Instagram Accounts of 2022

1. Instagram

Account owner: Instagram

Username: @instagram

Number of followers: 645 million

Profession: Social media platform

Country: USA

Best known for: Fun and inspirational content. Surprise, surprise, Instagram’s own Instagram account is what the platform is all about, fun and inspirational content, and it would be weird otherwise. Best suited for followers who are motivated by other people’s positive life stories.

Why not follow: While posting about diversity and people who have overcome their challenges and disabilities is seen by many as a good quality, some people might find it a bit forced and even political. 

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

Account owner: Cristiano Ronaldo

Username: @cristiano

Number of followers: 590 million

Profession: Footballer

Country: Portugal

Best known for: Cristiano Ronaldo’s experience with 3 major football clubs (Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus) is truly inspirational for other footballers. He is best known for his trophies and record-breaking achievements like five Ballon d’Or awards and four European Golden Shoes, most international goals (109), most Champions League goals (134), and most European Championship goals (14). He is also Real Madrid’s top goalscorer with 451 goals and the first football player to earn $1 billion in their career. 

Why not follow: People love Cristiano Ronaldo for his amazing achievements in the world of football, but he mostly posts pictures of himself on his Instagram account, which some people might not find all that interesting if they’re only football fans and not fans of Cristiano himself.

3. Lionel Messi 

Account owner: Lionel Messi

Username: @leomessi

Number of followers: 471 million

Profession: Footballer

Country: Argentina

Best known for: One of the greatest footballers of all time, with six Ballon d’Or awards and European Golden Shoes, and the most goals ever scored by a football player for a single club (Barcelona, 750 goals). Some people consider him Cristiano Ronaldo’s career rival, while others think he’s hands down the greatest player in the world. The main difference between Messi and Ronaldo is that Messi has won more titles than Ronaldo, but some people argue that’s because Messi has been playing for the better team. In my experience, it’s hard to objectively say who is the better player, even after looking at all the stats. It is a matter of preference, after all. 

Why not follow: If you’re not a football fan or a fan of Leo Messi himself, it’s best not to follow his Instagram account. He posts photos of himself, his family, and his team. 

4. Selena Gomez

Account owner: Selena Gomez

Username: @selenagomez

Number of followers: 422 million

Profession: Musician and actress

Country: USA

Best known for: Her singing and acting career. As a kid and teen, she starred in many movies and TV series like Barney & Friends, Wizards of Waverly Place, Another Cinderella Story, etc. Gomez has released 3 albums with her former band and 3 solo albums and has 8 top-ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100. She has also been a UNICEF ambassador since she was 17. 

Why not follow: Some people say Selena Gomez is not a talented enough singer, and her live performances are sometimes disappointing for such a big artist. 

5. Kylie Jenner 

Account owner: Kylie Jenner

Username: @kyliejenner

Number of followers: 394 million

Profession: Reality TV personality

Country: USA

Best known for: Starring in the E! reality TV series Keeping Up with the Kardashians and for being the founder and owner of Kylie Cosmetics, which helped her become the world’s youngest “self-made” billionaire at age 21.

Why not follow: If you’re not a fan of seeing Kylie posing in bathing suits and sexy outfits, consider not following her. Other than that, you should know that in 2020, Forbes accused her of forging tax documents to make herself appear as a billionaire and for fabricating revenue figures for Kylie Cosmetics.

6. Dwayne Johnson

Account owner: Dwayne Johnson

Username: @therock

Number of followers: 384 million

Profession: Actor and professional wrestler

Country: USA

Best known for: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is most famous for his humor and original moves and mannerisms during his professional wrestling career, namely “The People’s Eyebrow”, “The People’s Elbow”, and “The Rock Bottom”, as well as for his career as one of the most well-paid actors. Unlike John Cena though, who is also known for his funny persona and wrestling career, Dwayne Johnson also lost a lot of matches – a total of about 35%. If you haven’t seen any of his movies, consider watching Jumanji, Fast & Furious, and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.

Why not follow: The Rock posts photos and videos of himself, his movies, and his adventures, so don’t follow if you’re not a fan of him or his films. Some people might also not appreciate that he used to make jokes that were not politically correct earlier on in his career. 

7. Ariana Grande

Account owner: Ariana Grande

Username: @arianagrande

Number of followers: 374 million

Profession: Musician and actress

Country: USA

Best known for: Ariana Grande is best known for her music and impressive voice. She is frequently compared to Mariah Carey for her wide vocal range and whistle register, but unlike Mariah, who has a five-octave vocal range, Ariana has a four-octave vocal range. And while it’s an honor to be compared to Mariah Carey, and there are similarities between their voices, Ariana’s style is pretty different, especially on her newer albums. 

Why not follow: Ariana posts mostly photos of herself and snippets from her music videos, so if you need anything more than that, consider not following her. 

8. Kim Kardashian

Account owner: Kim Kardashian

Username: @kimkardashian

Number of followers: 359 million

Profession: Reality TV personality

Country: USA

Best known for: Her appearance in the reality TV series Keeping Up with the Kardashians and for having a sex tape released in 2007, before the TV show started. She also has her own businesses: KKW Beauty, KKW Fragrance, and Skims, a shapewear brand. 

Why not follow: A lot of people have accused Kim Kardashian and other members of her family of cultural appropriation and blackfishing, as well as setting up unrealistic beauty standards for the younger generation. Since 2000, butt-enhancing procedures have increased by 256%. 

9. Beyoncé

Account owner: Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

Username: @beyonce

Number of followers: 312 million

Profession: Musician

Country: USA

Best known for: Her amazing voice and singing career. With 118 million records sold worldwide, she is one of the world’s best-selling recording artists. She has won 28 Grammy Awards and 26 MTV Video Music Awards, to name just a few of her accolades. She is the most awarded singer in the award show’s history. 

Why not follow: Some people complain about Beyoncé photoshopping her Instagram photos to look thinner, which could cause self-image issues for women. I mean, if Beyoncé feels the need to edit her body, how are the rest of us supposed to feel about our bodies?

10. Khloé Kardashian

Account owner: Khloé Kardashian

Username: @khloekardashian

Number of followers: 308 million

Profession: Reality TV personality 

Country: USA

Best known for: Just like the rest of her family, Khloé has become famous due to the reality TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and later the subsequent series Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami and Kourtney and Khloé Take The Hamptons. Together with her sisters Kim and Kourtney, she has been involved in the fashion and retail industries, launching several collections of clothing and fragrances.

Why not follow: Just like the rest of her family, she has been accused of cultural appropriation several times, so some users might decide not to follow her because of that or simply because they’re not willing to be exposed to body image issues. 

11. Nike

Account owner: Nike

Username: @nike

Number of followers: 297 million

Profession: Sportswear multinational 

Country: USA

Best known for: Nike is a multinational sportswear corporation selling athletic shoes, sports apparel, equipment, and accessories. In 2020, it had a revenue of over $37.4 billion.

Why not follow: If you’re interested in sustainable fashion and not into supporting fast fashion and sweatshops, consider not following Nike. 

12. Justin Bieber

Account owner: Justin Bieber

Username: @justinbieber

Number of followers: 292 million

Profession: Musician

Country: Canada

Best known for: His successful single “Baby” and many more since he started his singing career at 14. Bieber has sold over 150 million records, being one of the best-selling music artists of all time. His first studio album made him the youngest male singer to top the Billboard 200 in 47 years, and his second album, “Under the Mistletoe”, made him the first male artist to debut at number one with a Christmas album on the Billboard 200. 

Why not follow: If you need your Instagram feed not to be bombarded by Justin Bieber, consider not following him. He posts multiple times a day.  

13. Kendall Jenner

Account owner: Kendall Jenner

Username: @kendalljenner

Number of followers: 290 million

Profession: Model

Country: USA

Best known for: Her modeling career and her presence in the reality TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. She is a brand ambassador for Estée Lauder and has done multiple editorials and cover shoots for Vogue, as well as walked the runway for high-fashion designers during fashion weeks in Paris, Milan, and New York. 

Why not follow: Kendall Jenner seems to be quite different from her family. The main difference between the Kardashian-Jenner clan and Kendall is that Kendall is much more private about her life and hasn’t had any kids yet. And while some people appreciate her more down-to-earth style, other followers have complained about her insensitivity to the Black Lives Matter movement due to her Pepsi commercial where she offers a Pepsi can to a police officer in the middle of a demonstration. Other followers have complained about rumors she’s rude to waiters and doesn’t tip. 

14. National Geographic

Account owner: National Geographic 

Username: @natgeo

Number of followers: 279 million

Profession: Magazine

Country: USA

Best known for: National Geographic is one of the most popular monthly magazines of all time, with editions in 40 languages and 6.5 million copies being sold worldwide every month. It features topics like geography, science, history, and world culture, and it has been published incessantly since it was first launched in 1888.

Why not follow: No reason, but if you don’t want to see dramatic photography of animals and nature on your feed, consider not following. Best suited for people who are passionate about nature, animals, the environment, and photography in general.

15. Taylor Swift

Account owner: Taylor Swift

Username: @taylorswift

Number of followers: 263 million

Profession: Musician

Country: USA

Best known for: Her singing and extensive experience in songwriting, often inspired by personal life events. Good at storytelling. Taylor Swift’s first album was country music, and the second one was country-pop, to which she later added rock, electronic and urban influences. She is one of the best-selling music artists, with over 200 million records sold worldwide. 

Why not follow: Unlike most other celebrities on this list, Taylor Swift doesn’t just post photos of herself but stories about her music and albums as well. It can be inspirational even if you’re not a fan of her music, but you might not like it if you’re not into the artistic-melancholic look and style of an Instagram page.  

16. Virat Kohli

Account owner: Virat Kohli  

Username: @virat.kohli

Number of followers: 252 million

Profession: Cricketer

Country: India

Best known for: Being the current captain of the Indian national cricket team. People consider Kohli one of the best batsmen in the world, with a world record for being the fastest batsman to 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000, and 12,000 runs in ODI cricket. 

Why not follow: If you’re not passionate about cricket, there’s not much you can get by following this account. 

17. Jennifer Lopez 

Account owner: Jennifer Lopez

Username: @jlo

Number of followers: 247 million

Profession: Musician and actress

Country: USA

Best known for: Singing, acting, and dancing. She started her career as a dancer on In Living Color and then went on to pursue an acting career. Her first role in the biographic film Selena brought her to fame. She starred in a few other movies and 2 years later launched her music career as well with the album “On the 6”. She was listed among the 100 most influential people in the world by Time in 2018 and is considered a “triple-threat” entertainer by many people in the industry. 

Why not follow: Some people accuse J.Lo of stealing Ashanti’s vocals for her own songs and of not having enough singing talent herself as compared to the success of her music career. If you’re one of those people, consider not following her Insta account. 

18. Kourtney Kardashian

Account owner: Kourtney Kardashian 

Username: @kourtneykardash

Number of followers: 222 million

Profession: TV personality and model

Country: USA

Best known for: Just like her other two sisters, Kourtney’s first encounter with fame came through the reality TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and later on through Kourtney and Kim Take Miami and Kourtney and Kim Take New York. Together with sisters Kim and ​​Khloé, Kourtney released the non-fiction book Kardashian Konfidential, a mix of autobiography and self-help. Kourtney also released her own website called Poosh in 2019, which is meant to educate, motivate, and create a modern lifestyle guide aiming to bring the sexy back to healthy living and leading a more balanced life. 

Why not follow: If you’re not into the whole Kardashian glam, then Kourtney’s Instagram account is not the best for you. She mostly posts sexy photos of herself, but also family photos and stuff she finds fun. 

19. Nicki Minaj 

Account owner: Nicki Minaj

Username: @nickiminaj

Number of followers: 221 million

Profession: Musician

Country: Trinidad and Tobago

Best known for: Her rapping, her voluptuous body, and her colorful appearance and personality. Nicki Minaj is considered by many the “Queen of Rap”, with an unbelievable word flow, spontaneity, and unique tone. With 137 million records sold worldwide, she is one of the best-selling female artists of all time.  

Why not follow: People generally love Nicki’s straightforwardness and sense of humor, but some followers might consider her problematic, the common reason for that being her feuds with other artists like Cardi B, Lil’ Kim, Remy Ma, and Mariah Carey. 

20. Miley Cyrus

Account owner: Miley Cyrus

Username: @mileycyrus

Number of followers: 210 million

Profession: Musician and actress

Country: USA

Best known for: Her music and unique raspy voice. Miley Cyrus has experience in different musical genres, from pop to country to rock to hip-hop and experimental. She first launched her career as a Disney character in the TV series Hannah Montana, whose soundtracks reached the Billboard Top 200, twice at number one and 3 times in the top five. Miley’s most famous singles from her own discography include “Wrecking Ball”, “We Can’t Stop” and “Party in the U.S.A.”

Why not follow: Some followers might not be too crazy about some of the things Miley did when she was younger, like cyberbullying Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. But as Miley says in one of her tweets, “I am proud to say I am simply in a different place from where I was when I was younger.” Ideal for followers who are fans of her music and willing to forgive and turn a blind eye to the mistakes of the youth. 

21. Neymar

Account owner: Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior

Username: @neymarjr

Number of followers: 209 million

Profession: Footballer

Country: Brazil

Best known for: Named the “South American Footballer of the Year” twice, Neymar is considered one of the best footballers in the world. He plays for the Brazil national team and the Paris Saint-Germain League 1 club. He is the second-highest goalscorer after Pelé for his national team, with 68 goals in 111 matches. 

Why not follow: If you’re not a football fan, consider not following Neymar, as he posts mostly pictures of himself and his matches. However, some people might take a look at his page and reconsider their decision to follow (wink wink).  

22. Katy Perry

Account owner: Katy Perry

Username: @katyperry

Number of followers: 201 million

Profession: Musician

Country: USA

Best known for: While Katy Perry’s first album, Katy Hudson, flopped, she rose to fame instantly with her second album, One of the Boys, released in 2008, and best known for the successful singles “I Kissed a Girl” and “Hot n’ Cold”. Since then, Katy has released another four successful studio albums, with nine Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles in the US, including hits like “Firework”, “Roar”, and “California Gurls”. Not only that, but she also broke the Billboard Hot 100 record by spending 69 consecutive weeks in the top 10, and Teenage Dream became the second album to produce five number-one Billboard Hot 100 singles after Michael Jackson’s Bad. It’s achievements like this that got her four Guinness World Records. 

Why not follow: People love Katy Perry because she’s fun and bubbly, and so is her Instagram account. If you’re into that and into seeing some cute photos of her and Orlando Bloom, you’re in the right place. If not, keep moving 🙂

23. Zendaya

Account owner: Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman

Username: @zendaya

Number of followers: 182 million

Profession: Actress

Country: USA

Best known for: Her role as a teenager struggling with drug addiction in the HBO series Euphoria, for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, becoming the youngest actress to receive this award. Zendaya is also known for her latest role in the science fiction movie Dune, as well as her earlier appearances in the sitcom K.C. Undercover, as well as the dance competition series Dancing with the Stars. At just 25, people already recognize her as a very talented actress who has accomplished so much in so little time but who also has a lot of time and potential to still grow. 

Why not follow: Zendaya posts a lot of stylish photos of herself, so if you’re not a fan of her or her style, this account is not suited for you. 

24. Kevin Hart

Account owner: Kevin Hart

Username: @kevinhart4real

Number of followers: 176 million

Profession: Comedian and actor

Country: USA

Best known for: Kevin Hart is a famous stand-up comedian and actor. He rose to fame with his role in the TV series Undeclared, after which he landed many other roles in movies like Paper Soldiers, Scary Movie 3, Little Fockers, and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. In the meanwhile, he also released a few comedy albums. Among them was “Let Me Explain” in 2013, which is when I think I first became acquainted with Kevin Hart. And although I loved the entire show, Kevin Hart will forever be the guy with the bum bump joke for me. I died laughing and, as the TikTokkers say, that video has been living rent-free in my head ever since and will forever be with me. 

Why not follow: People usually love Kevin Hart because he’s short, funny, and feisty, so his Instagram is a good place for his fans. If you’re not into his style of humor, I recommend not following.

25. Cardi B

Account owner: Cardi B

Username: @iamcardib

Number of followers: 166 million

Profession: Rapper and songwriter

Country: USA

Best known for: Her song “WAP” with Megan Thee Stallion, which created a lot of controversy. Cardi B has broken a lot of records and won a lot of accolades with her aggressive-style rapping. Her first studio album, Invasion of Privacy, released in 2018, was not only the best-selling female rap album of the 2010s, but it was also certified triple platinum, won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, and became the first female rap album to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year after a 15-year break. People love Cardi B because she’s strong and determined, but at the same time, isn’t afraid to be vulnerable, which makes her relatable to a lot of people. 

Why not follow: A lot of people don’t love Cardi B because she has quite a vile mouth, but most importantly, there are a lot of accounts of her doing nasty things, like drugging men to have sex with them, and stuff like that. Some users also feel her Instagram photos are quite vulgar, so if you’re not interested in seeing that, don’t follow. 

26. Demi Lovato

Account owner: Demi Lovato

Username: @ddlovato

Number of followers: 155 million

Profession: Singer-songwriter, actress

Country: USA

Best known for: Demi Lovato has released many albums and been on quite a few TV shows, but what most people know her for is her lead single “Sorry Not Sorry”. Demi has also fought to raise awareness about a few social causes close to her heart, namely struggling with eating disorders and substance abuse. That’s why she published the self-help memoir Staying Strong: 365 Days a Year in 2013 and released the documentaries Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated in 2017 and Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil in 2021. Fans love Demi because she is fierce and outspoken, not afraid to challenge the status quo. 

Why not follow: Demi recently wiped her entire Instagram post history for a fresh start and has started posting photos of her new punk-rock edgy look. If you’ve been more into her “pop” style and music, maybe this isn’t the account for you anymore. 

27. LeBron James

Account owner: LeBron James

Username: @kingjames

Number of followers: 155 million

Profession: Basketball player

Country: USA

Best known for: Being one of the best professional basketball players of all time, constantly compared to Michael Jordan. LeBron James is currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, but started out playing for his high school team in Akron, Ohio, and was immediately selected as a first pick in the 2003 NBA draft for Cleveland. He left Cleveland in 2010, after failing to win an NBA championship with them, and signed with the Heat in Miami, where he had his first NBA championship win. In 2014, he left again to sign with the Cavaliers, and in 2018 he left the Cavaliers as well to sign with the Lakers. LeBron has won two Olympic gold medals, and four NBA MVP awards, and is the only player to have won the NBA Finals MVP with three different teams. 

Why not follow: LeBron posts mostly about himself, his games, or his sponsors, so if you’re not one of his fans, his Instagram account is probably not going to be of much interest to you. 

28. Rihanna

Account owner: Rihanna

Username: @badgalriri

Number of followers: 151 million

Profession: Musician

Country: Barbados

Best known for: Her amazing music career, but also her acting, involvement in social causes, and entrepreneurship. The breathtaking Barbadian beauty was discovered in 2005 and quickly became one of the most successful and captivating female singers on the scene. Rihanna is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, and as of 2021, she is also the wealthiest female musician, with an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion, which is in part due to the success of her fashion brand Fenty and her cosmetics brand Fenty Beauty. Rihanna has also founded the non-profit organization Clara Lionel Foundation, which fights for improving the quality of life of young people everywhere, facilitating access to education and health.  

Why not follow: Most people love Rihanna because she’s super funny and easy-going, but if you’re not a fan, or you’re a vegan and you don’t like seeing her wearing fur, then maybe don’t follow her Instagram. 

29. Chris Brown

Account owner: Chris Brown

Username: @chrisbrownofficial

Number of followers: 141 million

Profession: Musician

Country: USA

Best known for: Born on May 5, 1989, Christopher Maurice Brown, also known as Chris Brown, is a multifaceted American artist known for his singing, songwriting, rapping, dancing, and acting. He is one of the most successful R&B artists of his era, often hailed as the “King of R&B”. Brown’s music career took off in 2004 when he signed with Jive Records. His debut album, released in 2005, went triple platinum, and his debut single “Run It!” topped the Billboard Hot 100. His second album, “Exclusive”, released in 2007, was even more successful, featuring the number one hit “Kiss Kiss”.

Brown’s global record sales exceed 197 million, making him one of the best-selling artists worldwide. He holds the record for the most Billboard Hot 100 entries by a male singer and the most top 40 hits by an R&B artist. He ranks third on Billboard’s top R&B/Hip-Hop artists of the 2010s and his accolades include a Grammy Award, eighteen BET Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, and fourteen Soul Train Music Awards.

In addition to his music career, Brown has also ventured into acting. He made his film debut in “Stomp the Yard” in 2007 and has since appeared in several other films, including “This Christmas”, “Takers”, “Think Like a Man”, “Battle of the Year”, and “She Ball”.

Why not follow: If you’re a 2000s R&B fan, you probably love Chris Brown, in which case you should give him a follow and see what he’s up to in his career. If you’re not a fan, his Instagram page will probably not interest you very much.

30. Real Madrid

Account owner: Real Madrid C.F. 

Username: @realmadrid

Number of followers: 140 million

Profession: Football club

Country: Spain

Best known for: Real Madrid C.F. stands for Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, which means Royal Madrid Football Club in Spanish, but most people just call it Real Madrid. Founded in 1902, Real Madrid is the second-highest-earning football club in the world, with a net worth of $4.2 billion. The 1950s formation is considered by many the greatest sports team of all time, with five consecutive European Cups under its belt. Overall, Real Madrid has a record of 13 European Cup/UEFA champions league titles and a record 26 trophies in worldwide competitions. In the world of Spanish football, the club has won 67 trophies. It was recognized as both the FIFA Club of the 20th Century in 2000 and the Best European Club of the 20th Century in 2010. 

Why not follow: If you’re not a football fan, or even more so a Real Madrid fan, there’s no reason to follow their Instagram page. As you can imagine, it’s all about football and their team. 

What do you think about the top-followed Instagram accounts? Do you follow any of these people, or what celebrities do you follow? 

Don’t forget to follow our Hot in Social Media Instagram account as well for the hottest and most useful tips and tricks on social media and digital marketing. 

See also: Changing profile pic too often