Without her running companies, writing emails, or negotiating deals, her net worth is almost similar to that of the top celebrities. Nala, the world's richest cat, is a social media phenomenon with millions of followers. With an estimated net worth of $100 million, or roughly ₹900 crore, Nala is officially the richest cat in the world.
Nala is a mixture of Siamese and Tabby cats from California, USA. Her story didn't start with luxury. She was adopted from an animal shelter when only five months old, in the year 2000. Varisiri Methachittiphan, aka Pookie, was the one who took her home. At that time, there was no intention of creating a brand or business out of Nala. She was just a loving pet.
Actually, everything changed in 2012 when Pookie set up an Instagram account for Nala to share her pictures and videos with friends and family. A random trial turned into a viral sensation in no time. The expressive blue eyes of Nala caught the attention of the world user community. The playful personality and the cute photos of Nala fascinated people the world over.
Her fan base expanded quite fast to over 4.4 million followers, thus, Nala became the most-followed cat on Instagram. In May 2020, Guinness World Records officially recognised Nala for having the highest number of followers for a cat on Instagram.
Nala has become a full-time business with her fame. With the rise of Nala’s popularity, it became a day job to keep up with her social media presence. Nala's combined net worth is believed to be around $100 million, while the income sources are sponsored posts, brand partnerships, and product sales.
Additionally, Nala got awarded the title of TikToker of the Year, thus, she is the only one amongst the five world-leading creators to have this achievement. That is to say that her power to influence people exists not only on one platform but various platforms.
The kitty fame is just the tip of the iceberg for Nala. At present, she is a brand with a line of products, an ebook titled Living Your Best Life According to Nala Cat, published by Penguin Random House in 2020, and a website dedicated solely to her. Most importantly, she is the founder of a premium cat food brand called Love, Nala.
Reportedly, Love, Nala has attracted nearly $12 million in funding from investors such as Hasbro, Real Ventures, and Seedcamp. Nala was also included in Forbes' Top Influencers in the Pets Category in 2017, which is a clear indication of her presence in the creator economy.
Beyond the fame and fortune, Nala uses her social media presence to advocate for the welfare of animals and to raise funds for charity. The story of Nala, from a homeless cat to a worldwide icon, is a perfect example of how social media has the power to change the face of business in the present time.
