Twitter Viral Records: The Most Retweeted and Liked Posts in History
From massive financial giveaways and celebrity selfies to global pop phenomena and poignant political statements, the history of Twitter (now X) is marked by moments that capture the world's attention. These viral milestones are often measured by retweets (sharing a post to one's own followers) and likes (indicating approval or appreciation of a post).
The evolution of viral content on the platform shows a shift from organic celebrity interactions to strategic giveaways and the immense power of organized fanbases.
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Key Facts
- Yusaku Maezawa set massive retweet records with giveaways of 100 million yen and 1 billion yen.
- BTS dominates the platform's engagement metrics, particularly within the K-pop community.
- Carter Wilkerson achieved legendary status by campaigning for free chicken nuggets from Wendy's.
- Barack Obama holds a significant record for the most-liked tweet following a quote from Nelson Mandela.
- MrBeast recently broke the record for the most retweeted English-language tweet with a $250k giveaway.
The Era of Massive Giveaways
In recent years, high-value financial incentives have become a primary driver for record-breaking retweets. Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa led this trend. On January 5, 2019, he promised 100 million yen ($924.3k USD) to 100 random followers who retweeted him, surpassing previous records within 24 hours. He raised the stakes on January 1, 2020, promising 1 billion yen ($9.223 million USD) to 1,000 individuals.
This trend continued with other influencers. Japanese YouTuber Hikakin utilized similar tactics, giving away 103 iPhone 13s (worth ¥10 million) and 40 Nintendo Switch OLED consoles (worth ¥1.5 million). More recently, on January 22, 2024, philanthropist MrBeast gave away $250k USD—the revenue from one of his videos—to 10 fans. By January 23, his post surpassed 3 million retweets, becoming the most retweeted English-language tweet.
The Power of Fandoms and Celebrities
No group has influenced Twitter's metrics quite like BTS. Their presence is felt across various categories of engagement. Member J-Hope's #InMyFeelingsChallenge video was the most-liked tweet of 2018 globally and in South Korea. Member V's behind-the-scenes selfies became the most-liked BTS and K-pop tweet of 2020 with 3.2 million likes.
The group's collective impact is equally strong. Their reaction to their first Grammy nomination for "Dynamite" and their message against racially motivated violence against Asian people in 2021 (the most-retweeted tweet of that year) demonstrate their reach. Other notable K-pop moments include Jungkook's dance to "Bad Guy," which became the most retweeted tweet of 2019.
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Other Celebrity Milestones
Before the era of massive giveaways, celebrity interactions drove the charts. Ellen DeGeneres's star-studded Oscars selfie from the 86th Academy Awards—featuring stars like Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence—became the most-retweeted tweet of its time with over 800k retweets in just 35 minutes. Similarly, a tweet from Louis Tomlinson to Harry Styles became a landmark for One Direction fans, overtaking previous records in 2015.
Organic Virality and Social Impact
Not all records are driven by fame or money; some emerge from persistence or tragedy. Carter Wilkerson famously asked Wendy's how many retweets he needed for a year of free chicken nuggets. After Wendy's set the bar at 18 million, a global campaign under #NuggsForCarter—supported by giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft—helped him reach the goal in 34 days.
On a more somber note, the announcement of actor Chadwick Boseman's death from colon cancer became the most retweeted tweet of 2020. In terms of likes, former US President Barack Obama set a record in 2017. His tweet quoting Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom in response to the Charlottesville attack surpassed Ariana Grande's Manchester tweet to become the most-liked post on the platform, reaching over 3.3 million likes.
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Summary of Viral Milestones
| Category | Key Figure | Notable Achievement | Metric/Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Giveaway | Yusaku Maezawa | 1 Billion Yen Giveaway | 1,000 Winners |
| English Language | MrBeast | $250k Revenue Giveaway | 3M+ Retweets |
| Social Impact | Barack Obama | Nelson Mandela Quote | 3.3M+ Likes |
| Persistence | Carter Wilkerson | #NuggsForCarter | 18M Retweets |
| K-Pop | BTS (V) | Behind-the-scenes Selfies | 3.2M Likes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who holds the record for the most retweeted English language tweet?
As of January 2024, MrBeast holds this record after his tweet promising a $250k giveaway surpassed 3 million retweets.
What was the most liked tweet on the platform?
The most-liked tweet was posted by Barack Obama in 2017, featuring a quote from Nelson Mandela's autobiography, which garnered over 3.3 million likes.
How did Carter Wilkerson get free nuggets?
He challenged Wendy's to give him a year of free nuggets if he reached 18 million retweets, a goal he achieved with support from the public and major companies like Microsoft and Google.
Which K-pop group has the most influence on Twitter records?
BTS is the most influential, with multiple members like V, J-Hope, and Jungkook setting records for likes and retweets globally.
What was the largest financial giveaway on Twitter?
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa conducted a massive giveaway of 1 billion yen ($9.223 million USD) to 1,000 random individuals in January 2020.