Mean Girls, the iconic teen comedy that captivated audiences in 2004, has continued to hold its place in pop culture. With the recent release of the musical adaptation in 2024, the film has once again garnered attention and appreciation. Surprisingly, it is Lindsay Lohan, the original star of Mean Girls, who reigns as the most influential cast member on social media.
A recent study conducted by Replay Poker, a social poker site, analyzed the Instagram accounts of the cast members from both the original film and the new musical adaptation. The study aimed to determine the stars with the highest maximum earnings per sponsored post on the platform. However, it's important to note that cast members such as Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Lizzy Caplan, and Jon Hamm, who are not currently active on Instagram, were not included in the study.
Lindsay Lohan, who famously portrayed the film's protagonist Cady Heron, emerged as the most influential actor in the entire Mean Girls franchise. With over 14.2 million followers on Instagram, the 37-year-old actress has a staggering earning potential of up to £46,700 ($58,769.4) per sponsored post. This amount is almost double that of any other Mean Girls cast member analyzed in the study.
Amanda Seyfried, known for her role as Karen Smith in Mean Girls, ranked as the second most influential cast member. Following the success of the 2004 film, Seyfried went on to achieve a successful career in Hollywood, winning a Golden Globe and an Emmy. With over 6.2 million Instagram followers, she has the potential to earn up to £24,700 ($31,089) per sponsored post.
Jenna Fischer, best known for her long-running role as Pam in The Office, takes the title of the highest-paid star in the new 2024 version of Mean Girls on Instagram. Fischer, who portrayed Ms. Heron, has gained a significant following of over 3.8 million on the platform. She can earn up to £17,300 ($21,775) for a single sponsored post.
Christopher Briney, the new Aaron Samuels in the 2024 adaptation, emerges as the fourth most influential star in the Mean Girls franchise and the highest-earning male cast member. With a lead role in the Amazon Prime series The Summer I Turned Pretty, Briney has amassed over 3.3 million Instagram followers and has the potential to earn up to £15,400 ($19,383.4) per sponsored post.
Ashley Park, who had a cameo appearance as a French teacher in the new adaptation and originated the role of Gretchen Weiners in the original Broadway production, also ranks among the most influential stars of the franchise. With over 2.8 million Instagram followers, Park can earn up to £13,800 ($17,369.6) for a sponsored post, making her the fifth highest-earning Mean Girls star on Instagram.
Busy Phillips, who followed in Amy Poehler's footsteps as Regina George's mother in the original film, secures the sixth spot on the list of highest-earning Mean Girls cast members on Instagram. With over 2.4 million followers, Phillips has the potential to earn up to £12,200 ($15,355.7) per sponsored post.
Reneé Rapp, who plays the 2024 version's Regina George, solidifies her place not only as the seventh highest-earning Mean Girls star on Instagram but also as the cast member with the most loyal fans. With an Instagram engagement rate of 20.8% and over 2.2 million followers, Rapp can earn up to £7,600 ($9,565.9) for a sponsored post.
Lacey Chabert, the original Gretchen Weiners, maintains her popularity twenty years after the release of Mean Girls. With nearly 1.1 million Instagram followers, Chabert has the potential to earn £6,400 ($8,055.5) for each sponsored post, securing her position as the eighth highest-earning Mean Girls star on Instagram.
Jonathan Bennett, the original Aaron Samuels, follows closely behind as the ninth most influential cast member. With over 1 million Instagram followers, Bennett can earn up to £6,100 ($7,677.9) per sponsored post, thanks to his role in the hit comedy and other films like Cheaper by the Dozen 2.
Auli’i Cravalho, who played Janis 'lmi'ike in the new musical adaptation, rounds out the top ten highest-earning Mean Girls stars on Instagram. While she may be better known for her lead role as Disney princess Moana, Cravalho has garnered over 840,000 followers on Instagram, allowing her to earn up to £4,900 ($6,167.5) for a sponsored post.
Mean Girls' status as a cult classic has firmly cemented the original actors' popularity on social media. Lindsay Lohan, in particular, continues to captivate her audience and stands as the most influential and highest-earning cast member on Instagram. As the world of Mean Girls continues to evolve, it's clear that the impact of the film extends beyond the screen and into the realm of social media.
