Quiet...I'm Going Viral
Going Viral: Fame, Fortune, and the Ones Who Disappeared
We all dream of going viral—posting that one video that blows up and lands us fame, followers, and maybe even a little (or a lot of) cash. But while some viral stars turn their 15 minutes of fame into major success, others fade into the background, forgotten just as quickly as they were discovered. So, what’s the secret? And who are the people that rode the viral wave to the top—and who couldn’t keep up?
Let’s break it down with some examples of viral success stories and the ones that, well, fizzled out.
The Viral Stars Who Turned Fame Into Fortune:
1.Charli D’Amelio
Before she became the biggest star on TikTok, Charli D’Amelio was just another teen posting dance videos in her bedroom. But once her simple, catchy dances caught on, she skyrocketed to fame. Charli now has over 150 million followers and has turned her TikTok success into brand deals, a reality show, and even her own line of products. She’s estimated to be worth $20 million, all thanks to viral TikToks.
2.MrBeast
Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, started posting silly challenge videos on YouTube years ago, but his viral success came when he began doing insane stunts—like counting to 100,000 for 40 hours or giving away huge sums of money to random people. His wild generosity and over-the-top content made him one of the most successful YouTubers ever, with over 200 million subscribers and an estimated net worth of $500 million. Not bad for a guy who started by reading the dictionary on camera.
3.Lil Nas X
Who doesn’t remember “Old Town Road”? Lil Nas X went from being a virtually unknown rapper to a household name after his country-rap hybrid song went viral on TikTok. But Lil Nas X didn’t stop there—he kept the momentum going with more hits, music videos, and headline-grabbing performances. He’s now one of the biggest names in music, with multiple Grammy Awards and a net worth of over $15 million. It all started with a viral song that people couldn’t stop making memes to.
4. Kylie Jenner
Okay, Kylie Jenner was famous long before she went viral, but her Kylie Lip Kits blew up in 2015 thanks to viral Instagram posts and her ability to tap into trends. The demand for her lip kits was so high that they sold out in minutes, and Kylie’s cosmetic line eventually made her the youngest self-made billionaire (though some debate how “self-made” she really is). Kylie turned her viral fame into an empire, with her makeup company, Kylie Cosmetics, valued at over $1 billion.
The Ones Who Couldn’t Keep Up With Viral Fame
1. Alex from Target
Remember Alex from Target? In 2014, a picture of a cute teenager working at Target went viral. Girls everywhere swooned, and for a brief moment, Alex had an army of fans. He even got to appear on Ellen! But after his viral moment, Alex struggled to keep up the momentum. Sure, he gained some followers, but there wasn’t much for him to build on. Today, Alex is mostly out of the public eye, working a regular job again.
2. “Damn Daniel”
Daniel Lara (aka “Damn Daniel”) became famous in 2016 when a friend made a viral video of him walking around school in his white Vans with the now-iconic line, “Damn, Daniel!” The clip blew up, and Daniel found himself everywhere—from memes to the Ellen show. But after his viral moment passed, the world quickly moved on. Daniel now lives a normal life and still occasionally posts on social media, but he never capitalized on his viral fame like others.
3. Tay Zonday (“Chocolate Rain”)
Back in 2007, Tay Zonday’s deep voice and quirky song “Chocolate Rain” became one of YouTube’s earliest viral sensations. His video was viewed millions of times, and Tay became an internet meme. But as more viral content flooded the internet, Tay struggled to keep up. Though he still makes content today, Tay never reached the same level of fame again, and “Chocolate Rain” remains his biggest claim to fame.
4. Rebecca Black (“Friday”)
Rebecca Black became viral for all the wrong reasons. Her song “Friday” (remember the repetitive lyrics and auto-tune?) blew up in 2011, but most of the attention was negative. People mocked her, and she became an internet punchline. While she’s still making music today, Rebecca had to overcome years of being laughed at and hasn’t been able to shake off her association with the infamous “Friday” song.
Why Some Make It and Others Don’t
So, why do some viral stars turn their moment into lifelong success, while others disappear? A few things come into play:
1.Consistency
People like Charli D’Amelio and MrBeast didn’t stop at one viral video—they kept posting content and kept evolving. The key to staying relevant in the viral world is consistency. If you blow up and then disappear, people forget about you. It’s about staying in the spotlight without burning out.
2.Skill and Talent
While some viral stars got famous just by chance (Alex from Target), others had actual skills they could capitalize on (Lil Nas X with music, MrBeast with creative stunts). If you can offer more than just a one-time meme, you have a better chance of turning your viral moment into something bigger.
3. Business Savvy
Once you go viral, you’ve got to know how to turn that attention into real opportunities. Whether it’s brand deals, collaborations, or creating new content, the viral stars who get rich are the ones who know how to capitalize on their fame. People like Kylie Jenner already had the business skills to make money off their viral moments, while others struggled to figure out the next step.
4. Luck
Sometimes, it’s just about being in the right place at the right time. “Damn Daniel” didn’t do anything special—he just wore white Vans at the perfect moment. But without a solid plan to follow up the viral moment, luck can only take you so far.
The Risk of Going Viral
Going viral sounds amazing, right? Who wouldn’t want instant fame and maybe even fortune? But here’s the thing—there’s a dark side to chasing viral fame. You can become famous for something embarrassing or risky, and once that’s out there, it’s out there forever. It’s important to think about how your viral moment could affect you long-term, and whether you’re ready for the spotlight.
Plus, the pressure to stay relevant can be intense. The internet moves fast, and what’s trending today could be forgotten tomorrow. If you’re not ready to put in the work to keep people’s attention, you might just be another viral star who fades away.
Ready to Go Viral?
Going viral is like riding a wave—you have to catch it at the right time, be prepared for anything, and know how to ride it to the shore. Whether you’re hoping for overnight fame or just curious about how it all works, remember that behind every viral star is a lot of luck, some serious hustle, and sometimes a little bit of risk.
So, are you ready for your 15 minutes of fame? Or maybe even more? Just remember, once the spotlight’s on you, there’s no going back!
What viral moment do you remember the most? Share your thoughts!
