Kai Trump is setting the stage to become NIL's next Livvy Dunne

November 18, 2024

Kai Trump is making waves in amateur golf, with her impact extending far beyond the course.

At just 17 years old, the Benjamin School standout has already built a social media empire of over two million followers across four major platforms, making her the most-followed female amateur golfer today. Trump ranks second among all amateur golfers, trailing only two-time NBA champion and North Carolina A&T golfer J.R. Smith, who has nine million followers. It's an impressive achievement for any athlete, but it's especially significant in a sport where reaching macro-influencer status—over 100,000 followers—is a rarity for top amateurs.

Trump is not only positioned to become one of the biggest student-athletes in the NIL arena, but she also has the potential to set a new precedent for how amateur golf can leverage NIL. Until now, it's been more common to see the game's most talented amateurs prioritizing on-course achievements to drive NIL opportunities. While there’s no shortage of talent, there's a massive amount of untapped potential for those who can harness their influence with the power of social media.

No one knows this better than LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne. With over 13 million followers, the fifth-year senior is the most followed college athlete across all sports—something that wouldn't be unreasonable for Trump to achieve, especially as a high school junior who has already crossed the million-follower threshold.

Instagram @kaitrumpgolfer

Trump is no stranger to attention, but interest from fans and the media has skyrocketed this year, particularly over the past few months. So, what's driving the surge in her popularity?

While her journey to social prominence began on Instagram in 2018, she hit her first major milestone of 100,000 followers March of this year. The real catalyst came in July when the oldest daughter of Donald Trump Jr. spoke at the Republican National Convention, gaining a new fan base and several thousand Instagram followers practically overnight.

Weeks later, YouTube golfer Grant Horvat shared a video of himself and Trump competing in a head-to-head match at Trump National. The video has since garnered over 1.5 million views while simultaneously offering fans and brands an inside look at her skills on the course. In August, Trump took to Instagram to announce her commitment to play golf at Miami. The post, which has earned more than 180,000 likes, quickly made national headlines.

Since then, fans and media can't seem to get enough.

Despite being relatively new, Trump's YouTube channel commands an average of 1.5 million views per video, occasionally featuring collaborations with familiar faces like Bryson DeChambeau and Good Good's Garrett Clark. Her TikTok account has quickly gained over a million followers, with her videos averaging over nine million views each—not to be outdone by her weeks-old X account, which has already picked up nearly 600,000 followers in just twelve posts.

While much of Trump's content centers around golf, she's recently begun sharing more personal insights. Videos that showcase a day in her life and behind-the-scenes moments from election night have already captured over 5.4 million views, offering her audience a closer look at who she is outside of the game.

The content is a welcome addition to amateur golf, building on what athlete-influencers like Marcus Smith Jr., a model and Howard University golfer, and Lexi Booras, a swing speed golfer and University of San Francisco golf team member, are already doing. Like Smith and Booras, Trump is showing how athletic talent can translate into broader appeal.

There's no question that she is at the forefront of an opportunity many in sports can only hope for. The buzz she's generating has the potential to draw interest comparable to some of the biggest names in NIL, particularly among female athletes.

One key advantage? Timing.

Beyond her family name, Trump will undoubtedly benefit from those who came before her. Trailblazers like Dunne, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers haven't just opened doors for women; they've knocked them down, paving the way for what's possible.

Trump is also entering a more established NIL landscape that feels a little less like the Wild West and one that, like it or not, is very much here to stay. And with Florida recently green-lighting NIL at the high school level, she's primed to start capitalizing on partnerships well before stepping onto Miami's campus.

Regardless of what she does from here, one thing is clear: Kai Trump is just getting started.