Who is the most successful Love Island star EVER?

Who is the most successful Love Islander EVER? From OGs Molly-Mae Hague and Dani Dyer to rising stars Gemma Owen and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu MailOnline takes a look at who comes out on top after their stints in the Villa

It’s no secret that there are life-changing amounts of money to be made and huge career opportunities to take advantage of if you play your cards right after leaving the Love Island villa.

Whether it’s with six-figure fashion deals, music and television careers or modelling contracts many stars have managed to successfully capitalise on their time on the ITV2 show, the new series of which starts on Monday in South Africa

Undoubtedly the most successful contestant of all time would be influencer and businesswoman Molly-Mae Hague who has managed to amass an incredible £4.5million net worth since 2019.

But hot on her heels with huge fashion and reality TV deals are two of the 2022 series stars Gemma Owen and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu who have the potential to meet or even eclipse her wealth in years to come.

Other names who have become millionaires after jetting home after a summer of love due to savvy business deals include Ann Summers model Maura Higgins, music star Wes Nelson and OnlyFans star Megan-Barton Hanson.

Here MailOnline takes a look at the most successful stars to emerge from Love Island based on their net worth, Instagram following and longevity in an ever-changing entertainment industry. 

1. Molly-Mae Hague

Age: 23

Net worth: £4.5MILLION

Number of Instagram followers: 6.8MILLION 

Top endorsements/roles: PrettyLittleThing Creative Director, Self tanning brand filter, Molly Maison home account.

Longevity: Huge social media following with successful own brands with room to expand in the future. 

Molly-Mae shot to fame in the show’s fifth series when she found love with beau Tommy Fury, 23, finishing second to Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea – who parted ways just weeks later.

New heights: Undoubtedly the most successful contestant of all time would be influencer and businesswoman Molly-Mae Hague who has managed to amass an incredible £4.5million net worth since 2019

Already an influencer before joining the show, she has amassed 6.8million Instagram followers and landed a six-figure deal when she signed with fast fashion chain PLT in 2019 to become their creative director. 

Molly-Mae has made £1.2million in profits via her company MMH Group Holdings and £848,000 from her self-tanning business Filter. 

She added to her cash pot with her memoir released back in June 2022 – Becoming Molly-Mae – which sold at a cost of £20 and bulked up her fortune by £2million during the pandemic.

The star is also a brand ambassador for Beauty Works. 

Four years on, Molly and Tommy are still together and live in a £4million mansion in Cheshire where they will soon welcome their first child together – a baby daughter.

Tommy, the younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, is a boxer himself.

He has an unbeaten boxing record and is said to have signed a six-figure deal to become the face of boohooMAN following his stint in the villa.

He is worth a reported £2.4million. 

Age: 28

Net worth: £1MILLION fashion deal and ITV reality show spin-off

Number of Instagram followers: 3.2MILLION 

Top endorsements/roles: Oh Polly fashion deal, Dancing On Ice contestant, Beauty Works Hair Extensions ambassador

Longevity: Ekin-Su has been predicted to be the ‘next Molly-Mae Hague’ as she was inundated with brand deals after leaving the show.

‘Turkish delight’ Ekin-Su who won the 2022 series alongside beau Davide Sanclimenti, 27, has been tipped to become the most-successful Love Island contestant ever, and made a strong start outside of the villa by signing the biggest clothing deal in the show’s history with brand Oh Polly.

Big plans: ‘Turkish delight’ Ekin-Su who won the 2022 series alongside beau Davide Sanclimenti, 27, has been tipped to become the most-successful Love Island contestant ever

The Essex-based actress, who has already scooped £25,000 in prize money was ‘inundated with offers’ by multiple retailers following her landslide win, signing with the brand in a deal worth more than £1million.

Ekin left the Love Island villa not only as the show’s winner but with the biggest following, and now has a staggering 3.2million Instagram followers. 

She will soon be competing on Dancing On Ice on ITV and is a Beauty Works Hair Extensions ambassador. 

She has also appeared on her own reality TV show with Davide called Homecomings where they both travelled to their native Italy and Turkey.

3. Wes Nelson

Age: 24

Net worth: £2MILLION

Number of Instagram followers: 1.5MILLION 

Top endorsements/roles: Musical artist

Longevity: Wes famously ditched big brand deals to launch his music/rap career and has gone on to achieve genuine success.

Wes has previously revealed that he became a millionaire at the age of 21 thanks to his successful stints on Dancing On Ice and Celebrity X Factor and launch of his music career.

He said: ‘I was a millionaire by the age of 21. And that’s not being a show-off or anything, but it’s wise investments and understanding this life doesn’t last forever.’

Amazing: Wes has previously revealed that he became a millionaire at the age of 21 thanks to his successful stints on Dancing On Ice and Celebrity X Factor and launch of his music career

‘I have a passive income and generational wealth, so my children, whenever they come about, they’re not going to have to work again. I don’t have to work again.’

The singer broke into the world of music in 2020, dropping his debut single and going on to release a number of hits.

After turning down record deals and the chance to work with the likes of Simon Cowell, Wes signed his first record deal in August 2020 with EMI Records. 

Following the success of his debut single, Wes then signed a new deal with Universal Music Group and EMI Records.

Wes will be on tour in May 2023, performing at six locations across the UK and Ireland, for his first headline tour.

He previously supported N-Dubz on their comeback tour. 

4. Maura Higgins

Age: 32

Net worth: £2.5MILLION

Number of Instagram followers: 3.6MILLION 

Top endorsements/roles: Ann Summers model, Elite Agency work, boohoo, Glow Up Ireland presenter.

Longevity: Maura has spread her wings into modelling and presenting and works with several beauty companies in a successful influencing career set to continue.  

Molly-Mae’s good pal Maura is said to be worth £2.5million, using her impressive 3.6million Instagram following to help her bring in some deals.

Maura won an army of fans during her time on the show, with her quick wit and notorious showdown with model Tom Walker as they were due to spend the night in the hideaway.

Appeal: Molly-Mae’s good pal Maura is said to be worth £2.5million, using her impressive 3.6million Instagram following to help her bring in some deals

Her sensational snaps caught the attention of Elite Model Agency in 2019, with Maura joining the likes of Naomi Campbell on their books, while she reportedly netted a total of £500,000 for her work with clothing brand boohoo and lingerie giant Ann Summers.

She also spread her wings into presenting taking on the role of Glow Up Ireland host, the makeup show, in 2021 – which fans loved.

Maura is a regular on huge glitzy red carpets and usually ends up on the best-dressed list at events such as The Brits and the NTAs. 

5. Dani Dyer 

Age: 26

Net worth: £3.1MILLION

Number of Instagram followers: 3.6MILLION 

Top endorsements/roles: ‘Mumfluencer’, Surf advertising campaign, InThe Style ambassador.

Longevity: Dani is one of the longest lasting stars to still sign new brand deals five years after winning the show and has successfully diversified her influencing to parenting. 

2018 winner Dani Dyer is worth an estimated £3.1million.

Making the most of the opportunities: 2018 winner Dani Dyer is worth an estimated £3.1million

The daughter of EastEnders actor Danny Dyer, has successfully branded her self as a ‘mumfluencer’ after she welcomed son Santiago to the world with her jailed ex Sammy Kimmence last January.

She has capitalised on her skills as an actress thanks to the platform Love Island gave her after winning in 2018.

The star coined the phrase ‘Perf with Surf’ for an advertising campaign with washing powder Surf and she has a podcast with her famous father called Sorted with the Dyers. 

In 2021 it was revealed she had raked in a whopping £250,000 the previous year, with accounts for Dani’s firm I Want It, I Got It Ltd showing the star had a cash reserve of £318,630 for 2020, a near £70,000 increase from £251,318 in 12 months.

She has written a book, gained more than 3.6million Instagram followers and released lucrative clothing collections with In The Style. 

6. Amber Gill

Age: 25

Net worth: £2MILLION

Number of Instagram followers: 2.6MILLION 

Top endorsements/roles: MissPap, debut novel 

Longevity: Amber is still racking in the cash and deals four years after and has branched out into novel writing giving her a USP. 

Series five winner Amber is reportedly worth £2million.

She beat Molly-Mae and Tommy to the Love Island top spot and took home a share of the £50,000 prize money with her ex Greg O’Shea in 2019.

Incredible: Series five winner Amber is reportedly worth £2million

But while Amber and Greg’s budding romance seemed promising, the Newcastle native and the trainee solicitor became the fastest winners to part ways in the show’s history as they split after just five weeks together. 

Just six weeks after arriving back in the UK, Amber signed an exclusive six-month deal with online fashion brand MissPap in September – earning her £1 million just eight weeks after leaving Majorca. 

And in an interview with The Sun in 2019 she said: ‘I always told my family I’d be a millionaire and now I am.’ 

Before Love Island she worked with her auntie at a salon aptly named The Salon and she previously said she plans to invest her earnings to start a beauty empire.

Amber has now launched herself as a writer, penning a Mills and Boon romance novel and appeared on Celebrity SAS in 2022.

7. Gemma Owen 

Age: 19

Net worth: Signed six-figure fashion deal with PrettyLittleThing

Number of Instagram followers: 2MILLION 

Top endorsements/roles: PLT deal, Abbott Lyon ambassador, international dressage rider, OG Beachwear owner 

Longevity: Gemma is on track along with Ekin-Su to become one of the richest Love Island stars of all time.

Snapping at Molly-Mae’s heels at online fashion outlet PrettyLittleThing, finalist Gemma has signed a six-figure deal with the brand.

Michael Owen’s daughter was handpicked by the online retail giant following a series of meetings in Manchester with founder Umar Kamani, 34, and his close team.

Big name: Snapping at Molly-Mae’s heels at online fashion outlet PrettyLittleThing, finalist Gemma has signed a six-figure deal with the brand

She is expected to become the richest Love Island contestant ever, eclipsing Molly-Mae by signing with the global fashion website – and is notably the first UK brand ambassador for PrettyLittleThing since the blonde signed with them in 2019.

Gemma said: ‘I wore PrettyLittleThing throughout my time on the show and now being announced as one of their newest ambassadors alongside some incredible talent including Love Island alumni is really special.   

‘The team has been amazing and I’m excited to get to work and start designing some collections for you all.’

In August 2021, Molly, whose Instagram following is a whopping 6.8million, became the retailer’s creative director.

Gemma’s year-long partnership with PLT will see the ITV2 star launch her own collections and create content for the brand’s YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok channels.

She will also help the brand launch their new platform PLT Marketplace, where customers can resell clothes in a move towards improved sustainability. 

Entrepreneurial Gemma is already the owner of OG Swimwear, which she launched prior to starring on the dating show this summer.

The International dressage star, who has competed for Great Britain, came second in the Love Island final with Luca Bish, 23, a fishmonger from Brighton.

Gemma was rumoured to also be in the running for a big-money deal with fashion brand, Boohoo, with a source also revealing she has been ‘bombarded’ with big-money offers from high street brands to stock her swimwear line – with expert predicting she could easily pocket £1 million after leaving the show. 

Gemma herself has also admitted she’s determined to become a millionaire like her inspiration Kylie Jenner. 

8. Olivia and Alex Bowen 

Ages: Olivia: 29, Alex: 31.

Joint net worth: £5MILLION

Joint number of Instagram followers: 4.7MILLION

Longevity: The pair are still making money seven years on from their time on the show.

2016 runners-up Olivia and Alex Bowen have also proven the power of the longstanding couple in the financial stakes, with the pair racking up a £5million fortune collectively thanks to brand endorsements, TV appearances and their fashion brand, Exempt Society. 

Olivia and Alex, formerly a sales executive and scaffolder, soared to fame in 2016 when they appeared on the ITV2 reality show, where she was an original star and he a late and extremely popular entrant. 

While their romance was initially thrown into despair when he enjoyed a night of passion with Zara Holland, things soon flourished for the duo.  

Loved-up couple Olivia and Alex tied the knot in a luxurious Essex ceremony two years after meeting on Love Island during series two.

Success: 2016 runners-up Olivia and Alex Bowen have also proven the power of the longstanding couple in the financial stakes

Their star-studded day secured them a lucrative £25,000 magazine deal and saw stars such as Gabby Allen, Pete Wicks, Tina Stinnes and Kady McDermott attended.

They scooped another reality show with TLC’s Olivia & Alex: Happily Ever After?  

In 2020 Olivia admitted she could earn up to £50,000 a month, a far cry from working as a sales executive.

Speaking Ovie Soko’s series Ovie: Life After Reality TV, the star admitted her life since leaving the villa was a worlds away from years living in a council flat.

She said: ‘I could never have dreamt of being in this position – not ever – and Love Island gave that to us.’

‘We then worked hard, we were nice people and we had a bit of luck on our side and not everyone gets that.’

Asked whether their earnings had been affected by their fame, Olivia added: ‘A good month for me back in the day would be about £1500. A good month for me… one month has been £50,000.’ 

9. Megan Barton-Hanson 

Age: 28

Net worth: 2MILLION

Number of Instagram followers: 1.5MILLION 

Top endorsements/roles: OnlyFans star

Longevity: Megan is set to continue to succeed on the X-rated subscription site OnlyFans after building up a loyal fan base.

Megan won legions of fans on the 2018 series due to her stunning looks and romances with Eyal Booker and Wes Nelson.

Her biggest financial success came when she launched herself as an OnlyFans model, becoming one of the site’s biggest names. 

She banked a million in the last 12 months and is said to have raked in the cash selling lingerie.

Star: Megan won legions of fans on the 2018 series due to her stunning looks and romances with Eyal Booker and Wes Nelson

Having also appeared on Celebrity Ex On The Beach, Megan is said to be worth £2million

Megan made well over a million in the last financial year and is also thought to have made a fortune selling sexy lingerie.

Megan’s proud stance on her sexuality also landed her a lingerie edit, Megan Loves, with Ann Summers, as well as her own collection of sex toy picks with the multinational retailer. 

Age: 26

Net worth: 1.7MILLION

Number of Instagram followers: 1.4MILLION 

Top endorsements/roles: West End star, Motel Rocks fashion deal

Longevity: Amber looks set to continue her roles in the West End after impressing audiences with her singing and acting skills.

Career: West End star Amber Davies, who won the 2017 series with Kem Cetinay, is said to be worth £1.7million having returned to her acting roots after her Love Island stint

West End star Amber Davies, who won the 2017 series with Kem Cetinay, is said to be worth £1.7million having returned to her acting roots after her Love Island stint.

Having successfully auditioned for her dream role in Dolly Parton’s musical 9 to 5, she also has 1.4million followers on social media and landed a £500,000 deal with fashion brand Motel Rocks.

She also had a stint at Proud Cabaret, had a part in Bring It On: The Musical and is now part of the Back to the Future cast where she plays Lorraine Baines.

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