In the whirlwind world of internet virality, a single photograph can unexpectedly catapult an ordinary individual into global recognition. This is precisely what happened to Alex Lee in 2014. At just 16 years old, working a part-time job at Target, Lee became an overnight sensation, famously known as “Alex from Target.” But what happens after the cameras stop flashing and the viral moment fades? Where Is Alex Lee Now, and what is his life like a decade after his unexpected brush with fame?
Back in November 2014, Alex Lee was living a typical teenage life in Frisco, Texas. Balancing high school with a part-time job at his local Target, he was just settling into his role at the checkout line. Unbeknownst to him, a casual snapshot taken by a teenage girl admiring his appearance was about to change everything. This seemingly innocuous photo, posted on Twitter, ignited a social media frenzy that would redefine Alex Lee’s life trajectory.
“I had no idea it was being taken,” Alex Lee, now 26, recounted to PEOPLE Magazine, reflecting on the photograph that altered his reality. The image spread like wildfire, inundating his old Samsung Galaxy phone with a deluge of messages and notifications after his number was leaked. “My phone, an old Samsung Galaxy, blew up with text messages and notifications because my number had been leaked,” he says. “My phone stopped working.” His social media following exploded, jumping from a modest 15 Twitter followers to an astonishing 650,000 in a single week, accompanied by a staggering 2 million followers on Instagram.
The internet’s fascination with “Alex from Target” quickly reached mainstream media. Ellen DeGeneres’ team, recognizing the viral sensation, swiftly contacted Lee, eager to feature him on her popular talk show. “I was not very active on social media, so I had no idea who Ellen was,” Lee admitted with a laugh. Despite his initial unfamiliarity with the celebrity world, Lee soon found himself en route to California for an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, marking his official entry into the world of fame.
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Alex from Target, 2014. Alex Lee
While his experience on the Ellen show was, by his own account, “amazing,” it thrust him into a level of fame he was entirely unprepared for. The transition from a regular teen to an internet celebrity was jarring and disruptive. “I was a very to myself person, I wasn’t popular,” Lee explained. “After the Ellen show, people started treating me differently, bothering me all day, and the news companies would wait outside my high school.” The intense exposure became overwhelming, ultimately leading him to leave his high school and transition to homeschooling.
Navigating the unfamiliar terrain of the entertainment industry, Lee, with the guidance of a management team, briefly engaged in brand deals. However, the initial excitement soon gave way to anxiety and pressure. He deleted his Twitter account, struggling with the expectation to maintain his online momentum. “People around me were saying that I am missing a big opportunity if I were to quit, and others were sending me death threats, jealous that it happened to me and not them,” he revealed. Feeling pressured and somewhat lost, Lee admits to relinquishing too much control to his management team, operating on “autopilot mode.”
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Alex from Target in 2014 during his appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Michael Rozman/Warner Bros.
Venturing to Los Angeles at 18, Lee embarked on a social media tour and experimented with creating YouTube videos. However, this path proved unfulfilling. “I hated it so much. So I ended up abandoning that project as well,” he confessed. After two and a half years in LA, Lee concluded that social media was not for him. “It only confirmed that I heavily dislike it even more,” he stated.
Seeking a different direction, Lee shifted his focus to fitness, particularly powerlifting. He created a new Instagram account with the intention of sharing his fitness journey, but even this endeavor was quickly overshadowed by his past internet fame. Despite his efforts to pivot, his followers were primarily interested in “Alex from Target,” leading him to abandon social media altogether.
So, where is Alex Lee now? Today, Alex Lee lives a life far removed from the fleeting spotlight of internet fame. He resides in Sherman, Texas, and works at UPS, loading trucks in the mornings. This job, he says, provides a sense of stability and satisfaction that was absent during his time as an internet personality. “Right now I have a job at UPS, I load the trucks in the morning, and I have to say it’s so much better than doing social media,” Lee told PEOPLE. “The stress is so much lower. It pays a lot less, but I’m a lot happier doing it.”
He values genuine connections, maintaining close friendships with those who knew him before his viral fame. Among these is his girlfriend, a lifelong friend with whom he is currently building a house. This grounded and authentic life is a deliberate choice, reflecting his desire for normalcy and well-being.
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Alex Lee, a.k.a. Alex from Target, in 2024. Courtesy Alex Lee
Reflecting on his unexpected journey, Alex Lee has no regrets about the “Alex from Target” moment. “I grew up very quickly,” he acknowledges. “I learned a lot about people, and people don’t always have your best intentions in mind, so I learned a lot about being able to trust others. I got to travel the world, meet a lot of really, really nice people and make some cool connections. It was all a great learning experience.” While he “never wanted to be ‘Alex from Target’,” he has embraced the lessons learned and carved out a life focused on genuine happiness and personal fulfillment, far from the viral whirlwind that once defined him. His story serves as a compelling reminder of the transient nature of internet fame and the enduring importance of finding contentment in a life grounded in reality, not fleeting online trends.
