In early 2019, an unexpected image began spreading across Instagram.
It wasn’t a celebrity selfie. It wasn’t breaking news. It was something far simpler.
Within days, millions of users were liking, sharing and reposting it.
The aim was clear. Help this post become the most liked Instagram photo of all time.
What followed stunned the internet — and even the man who uploaded it.
How a Single Egg Took Over Instagram
The image was a photo of an egg.
A plain brown egg. It was posted by the account @world_record_egg with one simple request: beat Kylie Jenner’s record-breaking Instagram post.
At the time, Jenner’s photo had around 18 million likes.
The egg didn’t just beat it. It destroyed it.
The post eventually surpassed 60 million likes, briefly becoming the most liked Instagram photo in history.
People joined in for the joke. Others liked it just to be part of the moment. There was no hidden trick. No celebrity backing. Just collective internet behaviour doing what it does best.
The egg became a symbol of online absurdity.
Proof that virality can’t always be planned. And proof that the internet loves simplicity.
The Man Behind the Post Says It Was 'Pure Luck'
Chris Godfrey, the London-based advertising executive behind the account, has since admitted the viral success was a fluke.
Despite his marketing background, he says there was no master plan.
As he explained: “It’s a fluke that caught the world’s attention.
"It’s what you do with that attention that counts.”
He also profoundly added: “An egg has no gender, race or religion. An egg is an egg, it’s universal.”
Well, that is certainly true.
Godfrey explained that the post landed at the right time. The right mood. The right audience.
That was enough. Industry experts later agreed. The moment couldn’t be replicated.
After breaking the record, the account took a more serious turn.
Posts showed the egg cracking under pressure. The new message was about mental health and social media stress.
Users were encouraged to reach out if they were struggling.
Although Lionel Messi’s World Cup post has since overtaken it, the world record egg remains iconic. A reminder that sometimes the biggest moments online come from the smallest ideas.