There is no definitive, data-based ranking of the most successful Nickelodeon stars. One WatchMojo countdown, which focuses on careers beyond the network, names Miranda Cosgrove, Melissa Joan Hart, Meagan Good, Victoria Justice, Keke Palmer, Amanda Bynes, Nick Cannon, Kenan Thompson, Emma Roberts and Ariana Grande—in that order, with Grande at No. 1. The list is best read as an editorial selection: it gives no scoring formula and does not compare the performers by a consistent measure.
What “successful” means in this list
These performers moved into different kinds of work: acting, music, comedy, hosting, stage performance and voice acting. There is no shared statistic in the available sources that makes those careers directly comparable. A more useful comparison looks at four things: how sustained their work was beyond Nickelodeon, how many formats or industries they entered, what prominent roles or independently documented recognition they earned, and whether there is current evidence for ongoing visibility.
The WatchMojo countdown supplies an ordered lineup, not a reproducible all-time verdict. Its own framing focuses on success outside Nickelodeon, and its descriptions reflect the time they were written. Old follower totals and predictions about future projects are not reliable measures of present-day success.
The 10 Nickelodeon stars, and how their careers developed
1. Miranda Cosgrove
Cosgrove became closely associated with iCarly, which anchored a long run on Nickelodeon. WatchMojo’s case for her broader success also points to touring after an EP and her voice role as Margo in the Despicable Me films. Her career illustrates a path from a network lead into both music and film voice work.
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2. Melissa Joan Hart
Hart was known to Nickelodeon viewers as the star of Clarissa Explains It All. Her work continued across television and film, including the ABC sitcom Melissa & Joey, which ran for four seasons. The example here is longevity in screen acting and sitcom roles after an early breakout.
3. Meagan Good
Cousin Skeeter was one part of Good’s career, not its starting point: the countdown notes that she had already taken on other acting roles. It also points to subsequent film and television work, making her a case of a Nickelodeon chapter within a broader acting career.
4. Victoria Justice
Justice is associated with Zoey 101 and Victorious. Paramount’s official series page for Victorious says the show featured original music performed by Justice and the ensemble cast. That musical dimension fits her later work: the Los Angeles Times reported that she continued acting and music after Nickelodeon and released an EP in 2023.
5. Keke Palmer
Palmer led True Jackson, VP and went on to work across acting, music and stage performance. The countdown points to her casting in Broadway’s Cinderella as one example of her range. Her career is a reminder that success after a children’s network can include live theater as well as screen work.
6. Amanda Bynes
Bynes first reached a broad television audience through All That and The Amanda Show. The countdown highlights her later film-comedy roles as evidence of a move from sketch and youth television into feature films. Its old speculation about a possible acting return should not be treated as a statement of her current career status.
7. Nick Cannon
Cannon moved from All That into comedy, recording and television hosting. The countdown notes that he hosted America’s Got Talent from 2009 to 2016, a substantial period in a prominent mainstream role. His path stands out for its breadth across performance and presenting.
8. Kenan Thompson
Thompson’s Nickelodeon credits include All That and Kenan & Kel; he later joined Saturday Night Live. That transition from youth sketch comedy to a major adult sketch-comedy institution is the central measure of his success in this lineup. Claims that he holds a current tenure record should be checked against up-to-date information rather than repeated from an older countdown.
9. Emma Roberts
Roberts starred in Nickelodeon’s Unfabulous and later built a screen career spanning film and television. The countdown cites roles or appearances in Nancy Drew, Scream 4, Nerve, American Horror Story and Scream Queens. Her profile is defined by continued acting across youth-oriented, horror and other screen projects.
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10. Ariana Grande
Grande played Cat Valentine on Victorious and later headlined its spin-off, Sam & Cat. Paramount’s official Victorious page identifies her among the cast, while the Los Angeles Times reported in March 2024 that her debut album was released in 2013 and that she had won two Grammy Awards. Among the evidence cited for this countdown, her path most clearly spans Nickelodeon television, music and major music-industry recognition—though that does not make the ranking an objective comparison.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the order is a matter of judgment
A singer with Grammy recognition, a long-running sitcom actor, a film performer and a sketch comedian do not have the same career yardstick. The countdown does not assign weights to its criteria or show a comparable tally of awards, roles, audience reach or earnings. Its order therefore reflects the outlet’s editorial judgment, not a measured score.
For a clearer comparison, consider the kind of success each career demonstrates: longevity, movement between formats, prominent roles, or recognition documented by independent reporting. Avoid treating net-worth estimates or social-media follower counts as audited evidence of professional success. Those measures are absent from a consistent comparison of all ten people here.
Other Nickelodeon milestones are not career rankings
Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards archive records event history, including more than 15 million votes for the 2000 awards, described by Nickelodeon as a record at the time. Paramount’s 2009 press release dates the 22nd annual awards to March 28, 2009. These figures and dates help establish the scale and context of Nickelodeon events; they do not measure the later success of the ten alumni.
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