Social media star Alex Hirschi, otherwise known as Supercar Blondie, could be the highest-paid motoring influencer in the world, according to a new survey.
However, Hirschi believes the data leaves out a lot of important factors.
The survey, compiled by British financial services comparison website GoCompare, says Hirschi, who lives in Dubai, is estimated to be able to command $1.4 million (Dh5.1m) a year from sponsored social media posts, with a daily income of $3,853.
While she declined to comment on her actual annual earnings, Hirschi says lists like this shouldn’t be relied upon for accurate information, as they simply don’t take enough outside factors into account.
Known across the globe as Supercar Blondie, the thrill-seeking Australian found fame thanks to her love of high-end cars.
A former radio presenter on Dubai Eye, Hirschi gave up her day job in 2017 to focus on her burgeoning social media empire.
She now boasts 17m followers on Facebook, 1.2m on TikTok, 6.1m on Instagram and 3.6m YouTube subscribers.
With that kind of following, GoCompare estimates she could command about $31,000 per sponsored Instagram post.
But Hirschi says the numbers aren’t as cut and dry as that. For starters, the list didn’t consider her Facebook account, which is where her highest number of followers is, and the niche she fills as a female in a male-dominated industry.
These things will all impact a CPM (cost per thousand impressions) rate.
“It’s annoying when you have some analysts who say who earns what just based on CPM rates,” she says.
“What I offer to brands is much more unique and if they want my reach they need to know that’s going to cost them more than that CPM rate.”
Such calculations tend to only be accurate when you’re examining marketing on a static website, she says, where there is no personality or face behind it. CPM rates are also affected by where your audience is from and how high their spending power is considered to be – for example, rates for US audiences could be 20 to 30 times higher than that of one in India.
The rich list doesn’t include endorsement deals or other sources of income, either.
“It’s just a general ballpark figure with these lists,” she says.
Hirschi also stresses it’s important to differentiate between influencers and content creators. She considers herself a member of the latter camp.
“Every day I work on creating unique videos and going out and hunting down cool things that people want to see,” she says.
“Influencers have bad connotations because they are just people out taking selfies and getting tens of thousands of followers.”
For that reason, Hirschi says she is discerning when it comes to paid collaborations and sponsored posts.
She says she gets “hundreds” of messages every day asking her to endorse products, and she rejects “99.9 per cent of them”, because they wouldn’t fit with her brand or her audience wouldn’t be interested.
“And that’s one of the things that has made my business successful. I’m very honest – when I work with a brand it’s because I really want to,” she says.
“Influencers try and grab at cash quickly and it dilutes the quality of their content. If you really want to grow in this business you have to put your content first.”
That is the mantra Hirschi lived by when she quit her radio job three years ago, with 50,000 followers on her Instagram account, a couple of inquiries from brands and a “let’s give it a go” attitude.
Until that point, she’d been working a full-time job, driving around in fancy cars in her spare time and documenting it on social media.
“I never had the intention to make money from it at all, I just loved driving these cars,” she says.
The next two-and-a-half years were akin to starting a small business, she says, and she didn’t have a day off in that period.
Going from 50,000 followers to almost 20m in such a small space of time meant a lot of hard work, and doing everything from accounts to filming and editing herself.
Which is why she rails against the idea that content creation is an easy or superficial job.
“If it was that easy to have millions of followers, then everyone would have millions of followers. It’s super-difficult to push through the noise.”
As for right now, Hirschi is currently seeing out the pandemic at her home in Dubai. She’s also working on a new business strategy that would pivot her operations to not rely on travelling so much.
“Last year we travelled nine months out of 12 months, so for me this has been a really nice kind of break.
“I don’t want to slow down [...] but travelling that much to create content is just not sustainable and I was on the path to major burnout.”
Who else made the content creator motoring rich list?
British car enthusiast Colin Furze came in second, followed by American diesel-man Dave ‘HeavyD’ Sparks. Furze is well-known for his videos that show how he rebuilds expensive cars, which he shares with his 10.1 million YouTube subscribers. Conversely, Sparks’s Instagram account is full of big trucks, big wheels and big food.
However, Hirschi’s estimated earnings are about twice as much as the runners-up, with Furze expected to make about $642,400 a year.
Sparks comes in close behind, with $593,400.
Rounding out the top 10 are four American influencers, one Briton, one Russian and one from Germany.
Hirschi is the only woman on the top 10 list.
GoCompare compiled it by estimating how much each personality could have made, depending on how many followers they have.
To calculate Instagram earnings, the company used inkifi.com’s online earnings calculator and, for YouTube, it used the platform’s publicly available data, which stipulates influencers can expect to earn about $2.85 per 1,000 video views, with more popular personalities earning up to $4.71.
This was then worked out on an average of four sponsored posts per month.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
FA Cup semi-finals
Saturday: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 8.15pm (UAE)
Sunday: Chelsea v Southampton, 6pm (UAE)
Matches on Bein Sports
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
RACE SCHEDULE
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm
Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm
Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
More on Quran memorisation:
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
Race card
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) US$100,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,600m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 2 (TB) $300,000 (T) 2,810m
9.25pm: Curlin Stakes Listed (TB) $175,000 (D) 2,000m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m
10.35pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
The National selections
6.30pm: Shahm, 7.05pm: Well Of Wisdom, 7.40pm: Lucius Tiberius, 8.15pm: Captain Von Trapp, 8.50pm: Secret Advisor, 9.25pm: George Villiers, 10pm: American Graffiti, 10.35pm: On The Warpath
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
