In a historic move for the creator economy, the world’s most-followed TikToker, Khaby Lame, has reached an agreement to sell a majority stake in his core business, Step Distinctive Limited, to the NASDAQ-listed Rich Sparkle Holdings (ANPA).
While viral rumors on social media (X and TikTok) valued the deal at a staggering $975 million, financial filings and official press releases from January 11–23, 2026, clarify that the transaction is an all-stock deal that transitions Khaby from a content creator to a controlling shareholder in a global commerce platform.
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Meta Description: Khaby Lame sold his core company to Rich Sparkle Holdings in January 2026. Discover the $975M valuation rumors, the AI “Digital Twin” strategy, and his move to controlling shareholder.
The Billion-Dollar Shrug: Industrializing Khaby Lame
The acquisition marks a shift from “viral moments” to a structured, “full-chain” commercialization engine. Rich Sparkle Holdings aims to turn Khaby’s 360 million followers into a $4 billion annual live-commerce powerhouse.
The Deal Breakdown
- The Buyer: Rich Sparkle Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: ANPA).
- The Asset: Step Distinctive Limited, which holds all exclusive commercial and IP rights for Khaby Lame.
- Valuation Rumor: While the $975 million figure has been widely reported by tabloids and social media, official SEC-grade filings have not confirmed a fixed cash price, instead detailing a complex all-stock merger.
- Cooperation Period: A 36-month exclusive agreement where China-based Anhui Xiaoheiyang will execute the global business plan.
Key Strategic Components
This deal is unique because it moves beyond simple brand endorsements into high-tech infrastructure:
| Feature | Description |
| AI “Digital Twin” | Khaby has authorized the use of his biometric data (Face ID, Voice, and behavior) to create an AI clone that can host livestreams 24/7 in multiple languages. |
| Controlling Stake | Unlike a traditional exit where a founder leaves, Khaby becomes a controlling shareholder of the parent entity, aligning his personal brand with the company’s stock performance. |
| Global Fulfillment | The partnership integrates a massive cross-border supply chain to sell Khaby-branded apparel, beauty, and tech products globally. |
| Priority Markets | The 2026 rollout focuses heavily on the United States, Middle East, and Southeast Asia. |
Financial Controversy: Fact-Checking the $975M
The $975 million figure appears to be a “conditional valuation” based on the peak stock price of ANPA following the announcement.
- The Reality: Rich Sparkle Holdings (ANPA) saw its stock surge from $20 to over $150 in mid-January before settling back toward $50–$60.
- The Dilution: The deal involved issuing roughly 75 million new shares. At peak prices, this theoretically “valued” the deal near $1 billion, but market analysts suggest the sustainable valuation of the business is closer to $300M–$450M.
- Net Worth Impact: Despite the fluctuating math, the deal secures Khaby’s position as the wealthiest individual creator in history, surpassing previous records set by MrBeast’s business valuations.
Conclusion: The Creator as a Conglomerate
Khaby Lame’s 2026 “exit” is less about a cash-out and more about “listing a human on the stock market.” By industrializing his silence through AI and e-commerce, Khaby has set a new benchmark for how influencers can achieve generational wealth without the burnout of constant content production.
