New data reveals that Elon Musk could potentially earn up to 275% more for a sponsored post on X than Mark Zuckerberg could on an equivalent post on Instagram.

The research assessed the X and Instagram accounts of tech giants Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg using earnings calculators to determine how much they could hypothetically earn for a sponsored brand post.

Elon Musk could earn approximately $233,000 per sponsored post on Twitter with the handle @elonmusk. His account has amassed a whopping 178.5 million followers and garners an average of 156,303 likes on each post.

In contrast, Mark Zuckerberg has only 13.5 million followers under his account handle @zuck on Instagram. Per sponsored post, he could make up to $62,100, which is 73% less than Musk.

Commenting on the findings, Olivia King says, “The fact that Musk earns more from Twitter sponsored posts than Zuckerberg does on Instagram speaks volumes about the respective platforms' user engagement and advertising potential.

“Twitter, with its real-time nature and conversational dynamics, offers advertisers a unique opportunity to directly engage with audiences in meaningful ways. In comparison, while Instagram boasts a larger user base and visual appeal, its algorithm-driven feed and focus on curated content may limit the organic reach and impact of sponsored posts.”