Sammy Griner, Known as Success Kid, Turns 18: His Look Now with Long Hair & Stubble Goes Viral
The Success Kid is all grown up. His recent transformation has reignited interest in the meme, as people reflect on how far he’s come.
Sammy Griner, the baby from the iconic “Success Kid” meme is no longer a baby. Sammy’s latest photo, showing him with shoulder-length hair and a bit of stubble, has quickly made the rounds online.
A side-by-side comparison of this new image with the original “Success Kid” meme — where baby Sammy famously clenched a fistful of sand with a determined look on his face — sparked waves of nostalgic comments.
Fans cannot believe he is already 18 and have expressed their surprise at how much he has grown. On Reddit, one fan remarked, “Awe. He’s still adorable!” while another pointed out, “Wow… still has the same smile.”
Over on Instagram, where Sammy’s mom shared the new photo, praise poured in from followers. “He’s so grown up! You did such a good job, mama!” one user commented, while another added, “You raised such a beautiful boy.”
The buzz continued on X, with fans sharing their disbelief at how much Sammy has grown. “How did this happen?” one person asked, while another tweeted, “Can’t believe this baby is all grown up.” A third chimed in, “What a transformation!”
But the latest viral photo also made people revisit the original meme with fresh eyes. For the first time, some fans noticed the sand in Sammy’s tiny fist and mouth.
“This is the first time I’ve noticed the sand in his fists and mouth,” one user confessed, while another commented, “Lol, never realized the little success baby was eating sand.”
Another user joked, “All these years, what we thought was the look of success was ironically the look of a kid experiencing instant regret,” while someone else added, “Ah, just realized he’s eating sand.”
The viral photo that turned Sammy into an internet sensation wasn’t planned at all. Back in 2007, Sammy’s mother, Laney Griner, snapped a picture of her son while he was trying to eat sand at the beach.
She uploaded the photo to Flickr, never expecting it to become a meme. In 2011, the image started gaining attention as the “I Hate Sandcastles” meme, portraying Sammy as a mischievous child who had just knocked over another kid’s sandcastle.
Laney, however, wasn’t a fan of that interpretation, feeling it painted her son in a negative light. After all, Sammy loved sandcastles! But soon, the focus shifted to a more positive spin, transforming the image into the “Success Kid” meme.
The clenched fist and determined facial expression became symbolic of small victories, and captions began flooding in, celebrating personal accomplishments. From minor wins to moments of good luck, “Success Kid” became a way to share relatable victories.
Over the years, Sammy’s family has embraced the “Success Kid” meme, using it to mark milestones and even for a greater cause. In 2015, the Griner family launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Sammy’s father’s kidney transplant.
Using the “Success Kid” meme to spread awareness, the campaign quickly gained traction and raised enough funds to cover the surgery. The meme had transformed from a symbol of small victories to one that played a significant role in the Griner family’s real-life triumph.
Sammy’s mom, Laney, has shared several memorable moments over the years. In 2017, she posted a photo of Sammy recreating the original meme, wearing a similar shirt and striking the same closed-fist pose.
The photo was captioned, “Exactly 10 years later and still the best Success Kid ever! #HappySuccessKidDay,” giving fans a nostalgic throwback.
Another family moment came in 2016, when she posted a photo of Sammy with both his parents, labeling it “Success Family,” once again using the signature fist-pump gesture that defined his viral fame.
