These are the top 10 biggest influencers paid to promote Las Vegas

UPDATE: This article has been updated to correct the identification and details regarding one listed influencer.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — According to data obtained by 8newsnow.com, more than 240 social media influencers have been paid by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) between Jan. 2022 and April 2024.

The data did not include the amount paid to each influencer, citing an exception in Nevada public records law concerning confidential trade secrets. However, LVCVA officials did reveal that influencers had been paid $2.2 million in talent fees during the 27-month period.

ALSO READ: $2.2M paid to more than 240 influencers to promote Las Vegas before Aces player sponsorship

According to the LVCVA’s website, the government organization is funded by room taxes. Those taxes, which are paid by both visitors and locals who book rooms at Las Vegas resorts and hotels, are estimated to have totaled $354 million in the last 12 months.

The top 10 influencers contracted by the LVCVA, when sorted by follower count, are as follows:

1. Jason Derulo

The 34-year-old performing artist has sold 250 million singles worldwide, and is known for songs such as “Wiggle,” “Talk Dirty,” “Want to Want Me,” among others. He has 59 million followers on TikTok.

Derulo was contracted in February 2024 to provide an Instagram Reel or TikTok video recapping his experience at Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas. That content was directed to be between 15 and 30 seconds, and Derulo reserved the right to remove that video after 2 weeks of publication. Additionally, Derulo was contracted to post two Instagram Story frames.

In exchange, aside from the undisclosed talent fee, Derulo was provided a stay at Encore Resort in a “King Tower Suite” from Feb. 9 to Feb. 12. Additionally, Derulo was provided ground transportation to and from the airport and Allegiant Stadium for the Super Bowl, and two tickets to a luxury hospitality suite, in which he was contracted to stay “for the majority of the game.”

2. Lele Pons

Lele Pons is a YouTuber who began her career on Vine. Since finding stardom on the internet, the 28-year-old has acted on film, television, and released music. She has 53 million followers on Instagram.

Much like Derulo, Pons’s contract was related to Super Bowl 58. She was tasked with creating a “visual asset” for Instagram, which would also be syndicated to TikTok, recapping the big game in Las Vegas.

Additionally, Pons was to create an Instagram Story frame which, according to the documents, “should support the over-the-top invitation that Las Vegas will send to the talent inviting them to the game on or around Feb. 1.”

3. Michael Le (justmaiko)

One of the most popular TikTokers, Michael Le is known for posting videos of himself dancing and tutorials. His channel, “justmaiko,” also contains comedic content, vlogs, and lip-sync videos. Le has amassed 51 million followers on TikTok.

Le’s Jan. 24 contract directed him to produce 1 TikTok video and 2 Instagram Story frames for his campaign.

4. Liza Koshy

Liza Koshy is a YouTuber who began her online journey on Vine in 2013. The 28-year-old actress has been featured in movies such as “Boo! A Madea Halloween” and “Good Burger 2.” Koshy has 30 million followers on TikTok.

Koshy’s contract was tied to the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas. She was contracted to provide one in-feed Instagram Reel or TikTok video meant to recap her “experiences in Las Vegas and at Super Bowl 58.” Additionally, Koshy agreed to post two Instagram Story frames.

5. Hannah Stocking

Known for comedy videos on YouTube, Hanna Stocking first hit the online ecosphere via the social media platform Vine. The 32-year-old comedian has since had appearances in “Boo 2! A Madea Halloween” and “Family Switch.” She has amassed 28 million followers on TikTok.

Stocking’s agreement with the LVCVA included two round-trip flights, one of which was first class and the other “standard,” and a stay in a “premium suite” at the Cosmopolitan or another mutually agreed upon “luxury Las Vegas Hotel.” Additionally, there would be an additional standard room provided for videographers.

Like Derulo, Stocking was given two tickets to a luxury hospitality suite at the Super Bowl, where she was required to stay for the entirety of the game. “This prevents [influencer] from visiting any other sponsor suites or sponsor experiences at Allegiant [Stadium] during the time of Super Bowl 58,” the document said.

Stocking was also afforded $150 per diem for all service and travel days.

6. Inanna Sarkis

Ianna Sarkis, a Canadian-born actress, writer and director, also appeared in “Boo 2! A Madea Halloween.” She has 17 million followers on Instagram.

Sarkis’s contract was also tied to the NFL championship game, where she was given a first-class seat to Las Vegas and $1,700 to book a return flight to Los Angeles. Additionally, she was booked a stay at an “[influencer-approved] Five Star Las Vegas Hotel.” Resorts listed as options include Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, Wynn, or Venetian. Sarkis was booked “first-class, exclusive ground transportation” to and from Los Angeles and Las Vegas airports, Allegiant Stadium for the Super Bowl, and all “client-specific activations.”

Sarkis was “encouraged” to stay in the luxury suite at Allegiant Stadium for the entirety of the game, with the contract citing strict security. In exchange, Sarkis was contracted to provide one in-feed Instagram Reel or TikTok video recapping the Super Bowl festivities and two Instagram Story frames.

7. Furrha Family

The California family of nine found stardom on TikTok during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their content includes the daily life of the family members ranging in age from 59-year-old Salem Furrha to 19-year-old Kies Furrha.

The Furrha Family was contracted to publish one TikTok video as part of the agreement. They were asked to provide a content draft for approval within seven days of the November 2022 contract signing. That content was published on Nov. 20, 2022, was 34 seconds long, and depicted Salem and his wife Samah leaving the family for Las Vegas, finishing with the words, “You can bring your kids to Vegas, but why would you?” That video accumulated approximately 52,900 likes and 747,300 views on the platform.

8. The Old Gays

The friendship of the “Old Gays” has been immortalized on social media, resulting in an upcoming unscripted docuseries. Their social media profile has amassed 10 million followers on TikTok.

They were contracted to publish two TikTok posts and seven Instagram Stories, two dedicated to promoting the Las Vegas Pride parade ahead of the event. They also agreed to attend the parade and interview with Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine.

In addition to the undisclosed fee, “The Old Gays” were provided round-trip business class airfare for six on Southwest, five hotel rooms, and ground transport to and from the airport and Pride parade.

9. Heidi D’Amelio

Mother of social media stars Charli and Dixie D’Amelio, Heidi has a large following and has been active on the “D’Amelio Family” YouTube channel alongside her husband, Marc. She appeared on season 31 of “Dancing with the Stars” and has 10 million followers on TikTok.

D’Amelio was contracted to provide one TikTok post on “a mutually agreed upon timeline.” Although she was contractually allowed to delete the post after six months, the video still appears to be online. It depicts D’Amelio receiving numerous text messages from Dixie and Charli before falling asleep on a couch and dreaming of a flashy visit to Las Vegas. Text on the post says, “I could take Dixie and Charli to @Las Vegas but why would I?” That video amassed approximately 25,400 likes and 577,800 views on TikTok.

10. Britney Friesen

Britney Friesen, known on social media platforms as BritneyAutomotive provides automotive-based content as her username might imply. The content creator has gathered 980,000 followers on TikTok.

Friesen was tasked with creating two TikTok posts to be syndicated to Instagram, 10 Instagram stories, to be produced during travel to Las Vegas. In addition, Friesen was contracted to post one static Instagram post.

The influencers were in the top 10 when sorted by follower count and are part of a list containing more than 240 influencers contracted by the LVCVA between Jan. 2022 and April 2024. The list omits the high-profile addition of the Las Vegas Aces roster, each set to receive $100,000 as announced in May. The list includes influencers who have amassed as many as 145 million followers and some with as few as 13,000.

The complete list of influencers contracted by the LVCVA between Jan. 2022 and April 2024 is as follows:

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