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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryMobile & App MarketingWhale

Mobile & App Marketing

Whale

A high-spending player or user who generates a disproportionate share of an app's in-app purchase revenue.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

A whale is a high-spending player or user who generates a disproportionate share of an app's in-app purchase revenue. In many free-to-play games, a small minority of whales accounts for much of total revenue. Developers design offers, VIP programs, and content to retain these users, while watching for ethical concerns around excessive spending.