It isn't just Zach King's "digital sleight of hand" that's magical; it's his social media following, too.
The internet personality from Agoura Hills, California, USA is one of the web’s most prominent content creators, dazzling people around the world with his digital magic tricks.
He now also has the most viewed video on TikTok, with 2.2 billion views as of 15 March 2022.
That's an incredible number of views to wrap your head around, especially considering that there are 8 billion people on earth and many of them do not yet have internet access.
@guinnessworldrecords Most viewed video on @tiktok - 2.2 billion by @zachking ✨ #harrypotter#zachking#illusion#gwr2023♬ original sound - Guinness World Records
Titled "Zach Kings Magic Broomstick", the internet-famous video was posted on 9 December 2019.
In the caption, Zach writes "They rejected my application to Hogwarts, but I still found a way to be a wizard."
The viral magician then emerges on screen dressed in a Hogwarts uniform as he appears to fly through the streets on a broomstick before the illusion trick is revealed.
Some followers couldn’t believe their eyes, posting comments including: "Am I the only one watching this again and again to understand how he did this?"
@zachking They rejected my application to Hogwarts but I still found a way to be a wizard. 🧹#illusion#magic#harrypotter♬ Zach Kings Magic Broomstick - Zach King
Zach was first captivated by magic and illusions at a young age.
He was a very introverted child and enjoyed attending magic shows with his grandfather.
"I used to feel shy at parties and I realized that if I could do some magic tricks for people, it immediately broke down social barriers and allowed me to connect," said Zach.
"I’ve always been intrigued by how magic can bring out childlike wonder in a person."
As Zach grew, so did his skills as a modern-day magician, and in 2008 he began posting videos on YouTube and enchanting the world wide web.
Without any plans of slowing down, the "Final Cut King" has been mesmerizing cyberspace web with his social media hocus pocus ever since.
Although his videos focus on magic tricks, the real magic actually lies in his mind-boggling stop-motion video editing.
"I still really love magic and learning about tricks," admitted Zach.
"But I just don’t have the time outside of work that is required for mastering them like the pros."
Zach has certainly earned his impressive following throughout the years, but also credits much of his viral success to getting an early start.
"I am a firm believer in the importance of being on platforms early. My team was on TikTok back when it was still called Musical.ly," said Zach.
"When it was rebranded as TikTok, my account already had a significant sized following, so it gave us a head start on a lot of creators."
Before becoming one of social media’s favourite illusionists, Zach would create content from his college dorm room.
In fact, he was just a freshman at Biola University, studying cinema and media arts, when his first YouTube video went viral.
"Back then, a million views would be considered viral. It was really exciting, and it gave me motivation to try to keep making more viral content," said Zach.
"I never thought I’d eventually get a world record though!"
@zachking Indoor camping #magic#glamping#stayhome#camping♬ original sound - Zach King
Although not the most popular video he has created to date, one of Zach’s personal favourites features a camping concept where he built a fort in his living room with his sons.
"The blanket fort creates a portal to a beautiful mountaintop with a campfire," said Zach.
"It was so special because I got to do it with my sons, but also because it was the first time that we built a set on a mountain and also the first time we posted a behind the scenes of how it was made."
But despite all the effort Zach puts into crafting the perfect digital illusions, he says his most viewed videos tend to be the ones that are usually the most spontaneous.
"I remember that during one team meeting, we realized that Halloween was coming up and we thought of an idea that used mirrors to make it appear that I was flying on a broomstick," said Zach.
"We filmed that video in one afternoon with just me and two other guys."
Like every good magician, Zach needed assistants to reach social media stardom.
The TikTok trickster credits his parents with gifting him his very first video camera and inspiring him to pursue his dreams in film.
"They home-schooled me and my siblings, which allowed us to have more time to invest in our passions," said Zach.
"They were a huge encouragement to me, and I would not be where I am today without them."
Throughout the years, Zach has earned multiple awards including the Hewlett-Packard Commercial Contest, YouTube’s NextUp Creators Contest, and Best Vine Artist at the 8th Annual Shorty Awards.
He has also been recognised as one of the 25 most promising young filmmakers in America.
But Zach was especially excited to learn of his latest Guinness World Records title.
"I grew up reading the Guinness World Records books and I always thought it would be cool to someday have a world record," said Zach.
"When I found out I officially had a world record, I was super excited, and it was pretty surreal!"
Moving forward, Zach hopes to pursue more than just bringing magic and wonders into the world through social media; he would like to move towards directing action-adventure feature films.
We don’t think he’ll need magic to make that happen.
Related Articles
