The Most Retweeted Posts in Internet History
Social media has given everyone a voice, but some voices manage to echo louder than others. Twitter, now known as X, has seen billions of posts since its launch, yet only a handful have captured the attention of millions enough to become the most shared messages on the platform.
These viral moments range from heartbreaking news to simple acts of kindness, and each one tells a story about what moves people to click that retweet button. Here are the posts that broke the internet and became part of digital history.
Chadwick Boseman’s Final Tweet
The announcement of Chadwick Boseman’s passing in August 2020 became the most retweeted post ever, reaching over 7.5 million retweets. His family shared the news from his account, revealing that the Black Panther star had been battling colon cancer privately for four years.
The post struck a chord with fans worldwide who admired not just his talent but his grace and strength. The image accompanying the tweet showed Boseman in black and white, a fitting tribute to an actor who brought so much light to the screen.
Carter Wilkerson’s Chicken Nugget Quest
A teenager named Carter Wilkerson just wanted free chicken nuggets for a year from Wendy’s. The fast-food chain challenged him to get 18 million retweets, and while he didn’t quite hit that impossible number, his 2017 tweet still racked up 3.6 million retweets.
Wendy’s ended up giving him the free nuggets anyway because the internet rallied behind his simple, relatable goal. Sometimes the most viral moments come from the most ordinary desires.
Yusaku Maezawa’s Cash Giveaway
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa promised to give away 100 million yen (about $925,000) to his followers in January 2019. All people had to do was follow him and retweet his post.
The tweet exploded to 4.1 million retweets as people around the world tried their luck at winning a share of the money. Maezawa, who made his fortune in online retail, understood exactly how to get attention on social media, and this stunt proved it.
Ellen DeGeneres’ Oscars Selfie
The 2014 Academy Awards gave us one of the most famous photos ever taken when Ellen DeGeneres gathered a group of A-list celebrities for a selfie during the live broadcast. Bradley Cooper actually took the photo, which featured Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, and others squeezed into the frame.
The tweet crashed Twitter temporarily and reached 3.3 million retweets. Samsung, whose phone was used for the shot, couldn’t have asked for better product placement.
BTS Sets a New Record
The South Korean boy band BTS posted a simple ‘Butter’ music video teaser in May 2021 that generated massive fan engagement. Their devoted fanbase, known as ARMY, pushed the tweet to over 3 million retweets in record time.
The group’s ability to mobilize their followers has made them a consistent force on social media. Every release they make turns into a global event that dominates trending topics.
Barack Obama’s Response to Charlottesville
Former President Barack Obama quoted Nelson Mandela after the 2017 Charlottesville attack, tweeting ‘No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin.’ The thoughtful response to a tragic event resonated with millions and became one of the most retweeted posts ever with over 4 million shares.
Obama’s post stood in stark contrast to the divisive rhetoric surrounding the incident. The message reminded people that hope and unity still matter.
Ariana Grande Thanks Her Fans
After the tragic Manchester Arena attack in 2017, Ariana Grande posted a heartfelt message to her fans expressing her heartbreak. The tweet received millions of retweets as people showed their support for the singer and the victims.
Grande later organized a benefit concert that raised millions for the affected families. Her genuine emotion and quick action to help turned a terrible moment into a display of resilience.
The Blue and Black Dress Debate
Remember when the internet couldn’t agree on whether a dress was blue and black or white and gold? The original photo tweet from 2015 sparked a worldwide debate about color perception and got retweeted millions of times.
Scientists even weighed in to explain why people saw different colors. This silly argument proved that sometimes the most trivial things unite (or divide) us online.
Louis Tomlinson’s Baby Announcement
One Direction member Louis Tomlinson announced the birth of his son in January 2016 with a simple tweet that his fans retweeted over 2 million times. The post was brief and to the point, just sharing his happiness about becoming a father.
Directioners, as the band’s fans call themselves, showed their support by making the announcement one of the year’s most shared posts. Celebrity baby news always gets attention, but this one hit differently for the devoted fanbase.
Kobe Bryant Tribute from the Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers’ official account posted a tribute after Kobe Bryant’s death in January 2020 that millions retweeted. The post included a simple message honoring the basketball legend and the others who lost their lives in the helicopter crash.
Kobe’s impact on basketball and Los Angeles culture made the loss feel personal to countless fans. The retweets reflected how deeply his legacy touched people around the world.
Tesla’s Stock Split Announcement
Elon Musk’s tweet about Tesla’s stock split in August 2020 got retweeted over a million times by investors and fans. The announcement had real financial implications, and shareholders wanted to spread the news quickly.
Musk’s social media presence has always been unpredictable, mixing business updates with memes and controversy. This particular tweet showed how much power his account holds over market movements.
The Egg That Broke Instagram’s Record
An account called @world_record_egg set out to beat Kylie Jenner’s most-liked Instagram post, and the campaign spilled over to Twitter. The simple image of a brown egg became a cultural phenomenon as people rallied behind the absurd goal.
Twitter users retweeted updates about the egg’s progress millions of times. The whole thing proved that internet culture loves a good underdog story, even when that underdog is literally an egg.
NASA’s Perseverance Rover Landing
When NASA’s Perseverance rover successfully landed on Mars in February 2021, the space agency’s tweet announcing the achievement spread like wildfire. Over 2 million people retweeted the historic moment, celebrating human achievement and scientific progress.
The mission’s success represented years of work and billions of dollars in investment. Social media allowed everyone to feel part of this giant leap in space exploration.
Taylor Swift’s Album Announcement
Taylor Swift announced her surprise album ‘Folklore’ in July 2020, giving fans less than 24 hours’ notice before its release. The tweet racked up millions of retweets as Swifties rushed to spread the news and prepare for the drop.
Her ability to keep the entire project secret until the last minute made the announcement even more exciting. The album went on to win Grammy awards and showed Swift’s continued evolution as an artist.
Cristiano Ronaldo Welcomes Twins
Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo shared the news of his twins’ birth in June 2017 with a photo that got retweeted over 1.5 million times. The post showed him holding both babies with a proud smile.
His massive global following spans continents and languages, making any personal news from him a worldwide event. Soccer fans celebrated with him regardless of which team they supported.
Joe Biden’s Victory Speech
President Joe Biden’s tweet after winning the 2020 election, promising to be a president for all Americans, reached millions of retweets. The message came after days of vote counting and uncertainty about the results.
Supporters shared the tweet widely as they celebrated the outcome. The post marked the beginning of a new political chapter in the United States.
When Retweets Became History
Twitter has turned into more than a platform for simply sharing one’s thoughts, as these tweets demonstrate; it’s the place where history is documented in the present. The tweets that have the deepest impact aren’t necessarily those by the largest celebrities or the most influential leaders.
Every now and then, a kid ordering chicken nuggets on the internet can have the same amount of love as a president’s speech. The one thing that connects all of these is the realness and the moment, a situation that greatly resonates with many people who want to share something that is bigger than themselves.
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