Influencer marketing blog

Top Business Influencers You Need to Be Following

Jan 29, 2026 | By Chris Jacks

Last updated January 29, 2026

Entrepreneurs and executives seek proven insights on strategy, scaling, and leadership in 2026.

These influencers share practical tools across platforms like Instagram and X. Content emphasizes efficient operations, customer acquisition, and team performance. Followers access real-time lessons from high-stakes decisions.

Current trends favor systems over motivation and data-driven growth. Active voices replace outdated ones with fresh perspectives on buying businesses and optimizing offers. Established leaders continue delivering on innovation and mindset. Platforms amplify direct engagement with millions. Connecting to these experts positions professionals for market advantages. Their experience spans tech, finance, retail, and digital marketing.

Top Business Influencers to Follow in 2026

1. Elon Musk

Elon Musk leads with over 200 million followers on X. He directs Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, and other ventures. Updates cover AI advancements, manufacturing efficiency, and regulatory challenges. Musk demonstrates rapid iteration in product development. His companies push boundaries in autonomy and space infrastructure. Public posts spark debates on energy transitions.

Entrepreneurs analyze his talent recruitment approaches. Decisions impact global markets instantly. Musk integrates multiple industries simultaneously. His communication drives cultural shifts.

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Source: @elonmusk on X

2. Gary Vaynerchuk

Gary Vaynerchuk commands 11.2 million Instagram followers through consistent value delivery. He heads VaynerMedia and invests across sectors. Content highlights attention capture and platform trends. Vaynerchuk promotes patience in brand building. Posts dissect social algorithms effectively. Followers implement his content strategies directly.

He forecasts consumer behavior shifts accurately. Daily output spans reels, stories, and carousels. Vaynerchuk bridges marketing and operations seamlessly. His frameworks support long-term growth.

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Source: @garyvee on Instagram

3. Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins reaches 7.8 million Instagram followers with performance coaching. He trains top executives and hosts global events. Material focuses on breakthrough states and decision making. Robbins links psychology to revenue outcomes.

Programs transform organizational cultures. Posts showcase client results regularly. He addresses crisis management techniques. Followers adopt his intervention models. Robbins facilitates massive seminars annually. His methods drive sustained excellence.

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Source: @tonyrobbins on Instagram

4. Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey connects with 6.4 million Instagram followers on financial principles. He founded Ramsey Solutions for debt elimination. Content enforces budgeting and wealth building steps. Ramsey rejects debt as a tool strongly. His radio program influences millions weekly. Posts display real caller transformations. Followers execute baby steps systematically.

Courses certify financial coaches nationwide. Ramsey advocates generational transfer strategies. Principles work across demographics.

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Source: @daveramsey on Instagram

5. Patrick Bet-David

Patrick Bet-David engages 5.1 million Instagram followers via Valuetainment. He interviews leaders and breaks down events. Content sharpens strategic thinking. Bet-David scaled insurance operations massively. Posts contrast historical and current tactics.

Followers study his agency expansion. He owns sports teams actively. Podcast bridges business and geopolitics. Bet-David teaches sales structures deeply. His media empire grows rapidly.

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Source: @patrickbetdavid on Instagram

6. Grant Cardone

Grant Cardone attracts 5.1 million Instagram followers with sales and real estate training. He controls billions through Cardone Capital. Content pushes revenue multiplication aggressively. Cardone structures large deals routinely.

Events gather scaling seekers worldwide. Posts provide market intelligence. Followers apply his closing methods. He criticizes traditional finance views. Cardone University delivers ongoing programs. Approach demands bold action.

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Source: @grantcardone on Instagram

7. Richard Branson

Richard Branson maintains 5.1 million Instagram followers sharing Virgin insights. He built diverse companies over decades. Posts emphasize customer experience and innovation. Branson prioritizes employee wellbeing.

Content features adventurous leadership. Followers learn unconventional management. He champions sustainability initiatives. Virgin expands into new sectors continuously. Branson mentors emerging entrepreneurs. Style integrates fun and profit.

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Source: @richardbranson on Instagram

8. Alex Hormozi

Alex Hormozi reaches 4.3 million Instagram followers teaching scaling frameworks. He built Acquisition.com portfolio companies. Content deconstructs offer creation precisely. Hormozi optimizes customer lifetime value. Posts expose common growth errors.

Followers deploy his gym launch model. Books outline step-by-step systems. He invests in service businesses selectively. Hormozi measures results rigorously. Methods deliver predictable expansion.

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Source: @hormozi on Instagram

9. Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek engages 4.7 million Instagram followers on purpose-driven leadership. His “Start With Why” framework guides corporations. Content explores trust building. Sinek addresses infinite games in business. Posts examine biological roots of behavior.

Followers implement safety circles. He advises military units regularly. Sinek maintains optimistic outlook. Concepts endure across contexts. Teaching inspires loyalty.

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Source: @simonsinek on Instagram

10. Robert Kiyosaki

Robert Kiyosaki draws 4 million Instagram followers with financial education. He authored Rich Dad Poor Dad series. Content contrasts assets and liabilities. Kiyosaki promotes entrepreneurship over employment. Posts critique traditional schooling.

Followers build investment portfolios. He advocates real estate and business ownership. Kiyosaki warns on economic cycles. Rich Dad brand educates globally. Message empowers wealth creation.

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Source: @therealkiyosaki on Instagram

11. Steven Bartlett

Steven Bartlett reaches 4.7 million Instagram followers hosting Diary of a CEO. He founded multiple companies early. Content extracts lessons from guests. Bartlett invests in startups actively. Posts cover mental health in business. Followers gain founder perspectives.

Podcast ranks highly worldwide. He built social agencies previously. Bartlett shares raw experiences. Insights accelerate decision making.

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Source: @steven on Instagram

12. Lewis Howes

Lewis Howes connects with 4.7 million Instagram followers through School of Greatness. He interviews high achievers regularly. Content targets personal development. Howes transitioned from athletics to media. Posts address vulnerability in leadership.

Followers overcome limiting beliefs. Podcast features diverse experts. He authored bestsellers on success. Howes hosts live events. Approach combines inspiration and tactics.

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Source: @lewishowes on Instagram

13. Codie Sanchez

Codie Sanchez engages 3 million Instagram followers on business acquisition. She acquires traditional companies profitably. Content demystifies deal finding. Sanchez improves operations post-purchase. Posts showcase boring business potential.

Followers source local opportunities. She challenges glamour narratives. Sanchez teaches financing structures. Community shares transaction details. Strategy favors cash flow stability.

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Source: @codie_sanchez on Instagram

14. Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban reaches 2 million Instagram followers mixing sports and startups. He owns Dallas Mavericks and invests broadly. Content critiques pitches directly. Cuban sold companies for billions. Posts discuss policy effects. Followers value honest feedback.

He backs disruptive ideas. Cuban runs cost-effective pharmacy. Investments span consumer tech. Perspective aids new ventures.

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Source: @mcuban on Instagram

15. Lori Greiner

Lori Greiner attracts 1.9 million Instagram followers as Shark Tank investor. She invented hundreds of products. Content shares invention journeys. Greiner holds numerous patents. Posts feature retail strategies. Followers launch consumer goods.

She achieves high success rates. Greiner produces television content. Approach supports creative entrepreneurs. Experience guides product market fit.

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Source: @lorigreinershark on Instagram

16. Daymond John

Daymond John engages 1.5 million Instagram followers from FUBU origins. He invests on Shark Tank regularly. Content covers branding essentials. John built streetwear empire. Posts analyze market trends. Followers develop licensing deals.

He consults Fortune 500 companies. John overcame early rejections. Agency serves diverse clients. Lessons emphasize authenticity.

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Source: @thesharkdaymond on Instagram

17. Russell Brunson

Russell Brunson reaches 1.5 million Instagram followers via ClickFunnels. He teaches funnel building systematically. Content maps buyer psychology. Brunson hosts marketing conferences. Posts stack offers effectively. Followers generate online revenue.

Books detail traffic sources. Software powers digital sales. Community exchanges templates. Tactics suit info products.

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Source: @russellbrunson on Instagram

18. Leila Hormozi

Leila Hormozi connects with 1 million Instagram followers on operational excellence. She co-leads Acquisition.com portfolio. Content optimizes people and processes. Hormozi scales service companies rapidly. Posts address hiring and retention. Followers build management systems.

She transformed gym chains. Hormozi focuses on execution details. Approach complements offer strategy. Results compound efficiently.

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Source: @leilahormozi on Instagram

19. Sara Blakely

Sara Blakely reaches nearly 1 million Instagram followers as Spanx founder. She invented category-defining apparel. Content encourages bold invention. Blakely bootstrapped to billions. Posts highlight customer listening. Followers pursue product ideas.

She expanded brand lines successfully. Blakely supports female founders. Story inspires persistence. Innovation drives category growth.

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Source: @sarablakely on Instagram

20. Dean Graziosi

Dean Graziosi engages 1.2 million Instagram followers with knowledge business training. He partners on large education ventures. Content teaches course creation. Graziosi scaled real estate early. Posts outline launch sequences. Followers monetize expertise.

Events gather thousands annually. He authored success books. Programs deliver transformation. Model replicates across niches.

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Source: @deangraziosi on Instagram

21. Jenna Kutcher

Jenna Kutcher attracts 1.1 million Instagram followers hosting Goal Digger podcast. She pivoted from photography to marketing. Content covers email growth strategies. Kutcher empowers female entrepreneurs. Posts blend business and life advice.

Followers build sustainable brands. She authored on personal growth. Podcast downloads reach millions. Approach balances ambition and wellbeing. Community fosters connection.

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Source: @jennakutcher on Instagram

22. Marie Forleo

Marie Forleo reaches over 938 thousand Instagram followers with MarieTV. She runs B-School training program. Content provides marketing clarity. Forleo coaches creative professionals. Posts tackle mindset blocks. Followers launch online ventures. She interviews industry leaders.

Style mixes practicality and energy. Training supports yearly cohorts. Message affirms possibility.

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Source: @marieforleo on Instagram

23. Ramit Sethi

Ramit Sethi engages over 933 thousand Instagram followers on money psychology. He authored I Will Teach You To Be Rich. Content scripts negotiation and automation. Sethi challenges frugality myths. Posts expose hidden spending.

Followers implement net worth systems. Programs address earning ceilings. He tests messaging rigorously. Approach focuses on big wins. Systems automate finances.

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Source: @ramit on Instagram

24. Neil Patel

Neil Patel reaches over 647 thousand Instagram followers sharing marketing tactics. He co-founded NP Digital agency. Content analyzes SEO and traffic. Patel serves enterprise clients globally. Posts reveal testing results. Followers optimize conversion rates.

Tools support content creation. He scaled software products. Agency wins performance awards. Data drives recommendations.

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Source: @neilpatel on Instagram

25. Amy Porterfield

Amy Porterfield connects with over 465 thousand Instagram followers teaching online courses. She guides digital product launches. Content simplifies list building. Porterfield left corporate for entrepreneurship. Posts outline launch timelines.

Followers create recurring revenue. Podcast shares expert interviews. She focuses on women creators. Systems reduce overwhelm. Training produces consistent results.

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Source: @amyporterfield on Instagram

Partnering with Top Business Influencers

Business influencers juggle multiple companies and commitments. Genuine engagement precedes any collaboration request. Study their past partnerships for fit. Define clear campaign goals upfront. Compensation aligns with audience size and deliverables. Creative freedom maintains message integrity. Partnering with a top influencer marketing agency streamlines execution significantly. Agencies hold vetted relationships ready. Teams manage contracts and timelines professionally.

Campaigns activate quickly across creators. Analytics track attribution accurately. Brands concentrate on product while experts handle promotion. Structure enables measured scaling.

  • Established networks for faster matching
  • Expert negotiation for optimal terms
  • End-to-end management and optimization
  • Detailed performance reporting
  • Compliance and payment handling
  • Multi-platform coordination

Strategic partnerships with business influencers generate awareness and trust efficiently. Results compound when alignment exists between values and audiences. The landscape rewards authentic, data-backed collaborations. Which influencers inspire your strategy this year?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chris Jacks is an influencer marketing professional with over a decade of experience in the digital marketing sphere. As the Director of Growth Strategy, Chris oversees and drives strategic initiatives to fuel business expansion. With a keen eye for market trends and opportunities, Chris develops comprehensive growth plans and aligns business objectives across cross-functional teams. With a strong focus on crafting impactful, ROI-driven influencer campaigns across multiple sectors, Chris utilizes his expertise to enhance market positioning and maximize results.

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