Sadie Sink gained 3.5 million Instagram followers in December 2025 as “Stranger Things” Season 5 dominated the month. Four “Stranger Things” cast members landed in the top 10, while Donald Trump, MrBeast, and a breakout street interviewer rounded out the rankings.
Here are the fastest-growing U.S.-based Instagram accounts from last month.
YouTuber promoting “Beast Games 2: Strong vs Smart,” which premiered January 7 on Prime Video.
MrBeast remains the most scaled example of a platform-native creator, with growth driven by spectacle-based video formats optimized for algorithmic reach. Beyond follower growth, MrBeast represents the creator-led media-to-commerce model at full maturity. His Instagram account functions less as a standalone publishing destination and more as a distribution layer supporting a broader ecosystem spanning YouTube, Prime Video, consumer brands, and live activations.
#7. Nick Shirley | @nickshirley Gained: +1.4M followers December total: 2.2M followers
Street interviewer and social experiment creator known for public confrontations and viral commentary.
Shirley’s rise reflects continued demand for street-level, confrontational interview formats that perform well in short-form video feeds. His content typically centers on unscripted public interactions, drawing engagement through tension, humor, and social commentary, i.e., elements that consistently trigger resharing and algorithmic pickup. Importantly, Shirley’s growth is not tied to external media exposure or platform promotion but to repeatable, low-production formats that scale quickly.
#13. Jordan Howlett | @jordan_the_stallion8 Gained: +840K followers December total: 16.7M followers
Viral food creator known for fast-food history and restaurant reviews.
Jordan Howlett’s Instagram growth continues to be fueled by his distinctive fast-food storytelling format, which blends consumer education, brand history, and casual commentary. His videos often surface obscure menu details or corporate backstories, making them highly watchable and easy to circulate. Howlett operates within a repeatable informational niche that rewards consistency and trust, positioning him closer to a media operator than an influencer in the traditional sense.
Nii A. Ahene is the founder and managing director of Net Influencer, a website dedicated to offering insights into the influencer marketing industry. Together with its newsletter, Influencer Weekly, Net Influencer provides news, commentary, and analysis of the events shaping the creator and influencer marketing space. Through interviews with startups, influencers, brands, and platforms, Nii and his team explore how influencer marketing is being effectively used to benefit businesses and personal brands alike.
Sadie Sink gained 3.5 million Instagram followers in December 2025 as “Stranger Things” Season 5 dominated the month. Four “Stranger Things” cast members landed in the top 10, while Donald Trump, MrBeast, and a breakout street interviewer rounded out the rankings.
Here are the fastest-growing U.S.-based Instagram accounts from last month.
#1. Sadie Sink | @sadiesink_
Gained: +3.5M followers
December total: 29.9M followers
Plays Max Mayfield in “Stranger Things” Season 5.
#2. Djo | @djotime__
Gained: +2.4M followers
December total: 6.1M followers
Joe Keery’s indie electronic music project, boosted by his role as Steve Harrington in “Stranger Things.”
#3. Noah Schnapp | @noahschnapp__
Gained: +2.2M followers
December total: 25.3M followers
Actor who plays Will Byers in “Stranger Things” Season 5.
#4. 50 Cent | @50cent
Gained: +2.1M followers
December total: 38.5M followers
Rapper and producer who executive produced a Netflix documentary about Diddy that was released in December.
#5. Donald J. Trump | @realdonaldtrump
Gained: +1.7M followers
December total: 41M followers
47th President of the United States, inaugurated January 20, 2025.
#6. MrBeast | @mrbeast
Gained: +1.7M followers
December total: 83.3M followers
YouTuber promoting “Beast Games 2: Strong vs Smart,” which premiered January 7 on Prime Video.
MrBeast remains the most scaled example of a platform-native creator, with growth driven by spectacle-based video formats optimized for algorithmic reach. Beyond follower growth, MrBeast represents the creator-led media-to-commerce model at full maturity. His Instagram account functions less as a standalone publishing destination and more as a distribution layer supporting a broader ecosystem spanning YouTube, Prime Video, consumer brands, and live activations.
#7. Nick Shirley | @nickshirley
Gained: +1.4M followers
December total: 2.2M followers
Street interviewer and social experiment creator known for public confrontations and viral commentary.
Shirley’s rise reflects continued demand for street-level, confrontational interview formats that perform well in short-form video feeds. His content typically centers on unscripted public interactions, drawing engagement through tension, humor, and social commentary, i.e., elements that consistently trigger resharing and algorithmic pickup. Importantly, Shirley’s growth is not tied to external media exposure or platform promotion but to repeatable, low-production formats that scale quickly.
#8. Joe Keery Updates | @djokeerydaily
Gained: +1.4M followers
December total: 2.8M followers
Fan account dedicated to “Stranger Things” actor and musician Joe Keery.
#9. Connor Storrie | @connorstorrieofficial
Gained: +1.1M followers
December total: 1.5M followers
American actor and social media personality.
#10. Timothée Chalamet | @tchalamet
Gained: +959K followers
December total: 20.5M followers
Actor promoting “Marty Supreme,” an upcoming sports drama.
#11. Instagram | @instagram
Gained: +910K followers
December total: 698.7M followers
Official Instagram platform account showcasing new features and user stories.
#12. Wealth | @wealth
Gained: +873K followers
December total: 13.8M followers
Digital media brand covering business, tech, and success content.
#13. Jordan Howlett | @jordan_the_stallion8
Gained: +840K followers
December total: 16.7M followers
Viral food creator known for fast-food history and restaurant reviews.
Jordan Howlett’s Instagram growth continues to be fueled by his distinctive fast-food storytelling format, which blends consumer education, brand history, and casual commentary. His videos often surface obscure menu details or corporate backstories, making them highly watchable and easy to circulate. Howlett operates within a repeatable informational niche that rewards consistency and trust, positioning him closer to a media operator than an influencer in the traditional sense.
#14. Cara Buono | @carabuono
Gained: +806K followers
December total: 2.7M followers
Actress who plays Karen Wheeler in “Stranger Things”.
#15. Vin Diesel | @vindiesel
Gained: +792K followers
December total: 105M followers
Actor and producer from the “Fast & Furious” franchise.
The ‘Stranger Things’ Effect
Four accounts rode the Season 5 rollout, which began with a November premiere and continued with new episodes on December 25:
The show’s final season drove massive follower growth across the cast.
Data from HypeAuditor, December 2025
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