Druski on the TIME100 Next Cover: From Instagram Skits to Arenas
Druski is one of three cover stars of TIME's 2026 TIME100 Next issue. Facts about the comedian, from his first Instagram skits and Coulda Been Records to sold-out arenas.
TIME revealed its 2026 TIME100 Next list on September 30, its yearly list of rising people shaping what comes next, and comedian Druski is one of the issue's three cover stars. His profile was written by Mark Wahlberg, and the cover issue is dated October 12.
It's a big moment for a comedian who started out posting skits on Instagram less than a decade ago. Here are the facts.
The cover
TIME's three TIME100 Next covers were photographed this summer in London and New York by Stefano Giuliano, on sets built by hand by art director Jana Frost. Each scene was made almost entirely out of paper, about 500 sheets per set. On his cover, Druski rises from a throne in a trench coat, which fits the persona he's best known for.
Quick facts about Druski
- Real name: Drew Desbordes.
- Born: September 12, 1994, in Columbia, Maryland.
- Started: posting comedy skits on Instagram in October 2017.
- The break: his appearance in Drake's "Laugh Now Cry Later" video in August 2020. He has said everything shifted after that.
- Coulda Been Records (2021): his fake record label, where he plays a ruthless music executive "auditioning" hopeful artists on Instagram Live. It became his signature bit.
- Tours: his first headlining tour, Coulda Woulda Shoulda, ran in 2023. Coulda Fest sold out Atlanta's State Farm Arena in the fall of 2024 and grew into a 10-city arena tour in 2025.
- Screen: a cameo in House Party (2023), a role in Praise This (2023), and an appearance in the final season of Grown-ish. A role in the baseball romantic comedy The Catch was announced in June 2026.
- Hosting: he hosted the NFL Honors in February 2026 and the BET Awards in 2026.
- Money: Forbes ranked him No. 9 on its list of top creators, with an estimated $14 million in 2025 earnings.
Why it matters
Druski is part of a generation of comedians whose path skipped the old ladder. No years of open mics followed by a late-night spot and a sitcom. Instead: short videos, a recurring character, a loyal online audience, and then straight to arenas. TIME putting him on a cover says that path is now mainstream.
For more, see our lists of the most popular comedians in the world and the funniest Black stand-up comedians.