Sydney TikTok stars: Who they are and what they earn
From lawyers to PJ designers and magicians, Sydney’s top TikTok ‘stars’ are raking in tens of thousands of dollars a month as the platform creates a new generation of internet icons.
Entertainment
Don't miss out on the headlines from Entertainment. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Sydney’s top TikTok stars are raking in tens of thousands of dollars a month as the platform creates a new generation of internet icons with untold influence on young people.
From R & B artists to lawyers, the city’s most successful content creators are earning big cash posting viral videos on the Chinese-owned platform, which has 800 million mainly Gen Z users worldwide.
Users either get paid directly by TikTok’s Creator Fund if they have more than 10,000 followers or by brands if they post sponsored content.
Founder of social media talent agency Born Bred Talent, Clare Winterbourn, has seen a trend in the number of Australians cashing in on the platform, with 70 per cent of her talent becoming full-time influencers.
“The growth has been astronomical over the past two years in Australia. While at its embryonic stage it was very much regarded as a dancing, youth platform, we have seen the platform mature both in user age but also in the wide range of brands experiencing success on the platform,” she said.
For those young Australians that choose the path to internet stardom, the rewards can be very generous indeed.
“Tik Tok can be extremely lucrative, the average income varies quite dramatically between influencers with post rates ranging from $500 to $40,000,” Ms Winterbourn said.
“It has also proven to be a powerful platform to leverage secondary business ventures from, we have talent who have used TikTok to launch clothing ranges, Podcasts and a wide range of ecom businesses.”
1. THE INSPIRED UNEMPLOYED
Jack Steele, 27, and Matt Ford, 26, who shot to fame during the Covid-19 pandemic by sharing hilarious skits of their life on Instagram and Tik Tok, are one such success story of the platform.
The tradies from the state’s south coast amassed 870,000 followers in two years, a following that has enabled them to quit their jobs and turn to social media full-time.
Their internet stardom also led to them being recognised in the fashion space and featuring on the cover of GQ and modelling for Vogue, walking the runway for The Iconic and scoring an invite to Australian Fashion Week.
2. RORY ELIZA
The Newcastle comedian, who quit high school to become TikTok famous after attracting 5.3 million followers, is earning big cash through the platform.
The 19-year-old works three hours a day creating video content for her huge audience with humorous and authentic takes on her daily life.
The comedian has been open about her TikTok fortune, admitting that she earns more than the average Australian.
But Eliza has also been forthcoming about the challenges of internet stardom, admitting she gets lonely and sometimes depressed because of the isolation of being an influencer.
3. AVENEESHA MARTINS
R & B artist and actor Avneesha Martins owes her artistic success to the platform, reeling in 1.5 million with her funny sketch videos focusing on music and acting.
Her page took off overnight when she posted a funny sketch of her Indian mum saying “you can’t wear that!” in response to her outfits.
The Kellyville resident now makes a full-time income through TikTok and says it’s not unusual for some creators to earn tens of thousands a month.
“It’s definitely possible for big creators to make thousands of dollars on a post,” she said.
The platform has also supercharged her career, landing her a role in the TikTok Trending show on I Heart Radio and fast-tracking her ambitions to become an actress and touring singer.
“It’s been huge. It’s been a game changer for me, I never thought I could do this full-time,” she said.
4. RAYMOND ZHAL
TikTok’s vast audience has also turned some professionals into internet stars.
One such example is criminal defence lawyer Raymond Zhai, who has somewhat of a cult following on TikTok for his free legal advice.
The Sydney-based lawyer posts short clips with tips about interacting with police such as “how to exercise your right to silence” and “is filming police legal?”
He has 33,000 followers and growing since launching in February. Zhai has successfully defended murderers and drug suppliers throughout his career, including the man who famously drove a van full of ice into a police car.
Zhai uses the platform to make legal advice relatable to a broader audience while also promoting his legal business.
“I get a few inquiries every time I post a video so it’s been pretty good. It’s been good to be able to reach more people and get feedback on what people think is useful content,” he said.
5. BLJAY BANLYA
The Sydney-based dancer has accrued a massive 9.7 million following with his catchy dance videos.
The Nepali hip hop dancer posts short clips breaking down into smooth dance moves at various locations across the city and at home.
The clips have been so successful that Baniya has been able to take on being a social media influencer full-time.
6. BRIDEY DRAKE
Ettalong Beach fashionista Bridey Drake has made a fortune after saving her pyjama business from closure using TikTok.
The 20-year-old has a 335K following on the social media platform, where she shares insights about her daily life with users.
She and her friend Gandhari Gurung started pyjama business Night Sweet Thing in 2019 selling pyjamas at market stalls but were left on the verge of closure when the markets were shutdown by the pandemic.
After taking to TikTok to advertise the pyjamas, the pair were inundated with orders and sold out within days, making $10,000 in just a few months.
“Our audience has nearly all come through TikTok. The platform has completely changed our business … from giving up when Covid hit, putting our Pj’s into storage and deactivating our website … to recently turning over $30K in sales in one night with our last restock,” she said.
7. ASH MAGIC
Magician Ash Hodgkinson has become a worldwide sensation with his magic trick tutorials on TikTok.
Hodgkinson has been open about how he battled anxiety and ADHD in his journey to becoming an international internet star with a huge following of more than 6.6 million people.
The 19-year-old was bullied at high school for his love of magic tricks but now has enough cash to break into the Sydney property market thanks to his stardom.
8. LANNAN NEVILLE EACOTT
Central Coast professional gamer Lazerbeam has a net worth of $8 million thanks to his social media stardom.
The 27-year-old initially rose to fame on YouTube with his video game commentaries and memes, which later gained traction on TikTok.
He has one of the largest followings on the platform, with 8 million followers and growing.
TikTok Australia General Manager Lee Hunter said the number of content creators turning their social media stardom into paid work has skyrocketed.
“We’ve seen local TikTok creators who’ve started out as buskers getting major record label deals, foodies on TikTok signing cookbook deals and local SMBs selling out of their products,” he said.
Olivia Rodrigo pops up to impress Sydney fans
American pop star Olivia Rodrigo impressed invited guests when she popped up at her Sydney “store” on Wednesday ahead of her four sold out shows this week.
Huge New Year’s Day festival cuts tickets prices
As the Australian live music market is flooded with big international tours with average tickets costing $300, Field Day dropped its prices. See how much you’ll pay and how to get tickets.