Top 20 Most Followed People on Instagram History (2011-2026)

Who is the ultimate King of Social Media? 👑
​This video visualizes the evolution of the Top 20 Most Followed Humans on Instagram from the platform's early days in 2011 all the way to January 2026.
​⚠️ Important Note: We removed brand accounts (like Instagram, Nike, National Geographic) to show the true popularity battle between real people. Watch the intense race between athletes, musicians, and actors!
​📉 Timeline Highlights:
• 2011-2015: The early dominance of Justin Bieber & Kim Kardashian.
• 2016: Selena Gomez takes over as the Queen of Instagram.
• 2018: The unstoppable rise of Cristiano Ronaldo.
• 2022: Lionel Messi's massive growth after the World Cup.
• 2026: See exactly who holds the crown today with over 670M followers!
​👥 Featured Celebrities in this Race:
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Selena Gomez, Kylie Jenner, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Kendall Jenner, Virat Kohli, and more.
​📊 Data Source:
Compiled from historical records and official live statistics as of January 2026.
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👇 Who were you rooting for? Let us know in the comments!
​#instagram #mostfollowed #dataisbeautiful #cristianoronaldo #messi #selenagomez #barchartrace #2026 #statistics