diff --git a/apps/web/e2e/helpers/api-mock.ts b/apps/web/e2e/helpers/api-mock.ts
index 1782fb9..0bab222 100644
--- a/apps/web/e2e/helpers/api-mock.ts
+++ b/apps/web/e2e/helpers/api-mock.ts
@@ -450,6 +450,11 @@ export function scenarioFor(
     // that hit those routes render without 599s.
     'GET /v1/roadmap': emptyRoadmapListing,
     'GET /v1/roadmap/changelog': emptyChangelog,
+    // Supporter chip in TopBar fans out to /v1/me/supporter on every
+    // signed-in render. Default to state=none so scenarios that
+    // don't exercise supporter logic don't hit a 599; supporter
+    // tests override via `supporterStatus(...)`.
+    'GET /v1/me/supporter': supporterStatusNone,
   };
   return { __id: id, routes: { ...base, ...overrides } };
 }
@@ -465,3 +470,34 @@ export const emptyChangelog = {
   status: 200,
   body: { entries: [] as Array<unknown> },
 };
+
+/** Non-supporter status — used in scenarioFor's base map. */
+export const supporterStatusNone = {
+  status: 200,
+  body: {
+    state: 'none',
+    name_plate: null,
+    became_supporter_at: null,
+    last_payment_at: null,
+    grace_until: null,
+    cancelled_at: null,
+    current_tier_key: null,
+  },
+};
+
+/** Helper for tests that want an active supporter state with a tier. */
+export const supporterStatus = (
+  tier: 'coffee' | 'standard' | 'generous',
+  namePlate: string | null = null,
+) => ({
+  status: 200,
+  body: {
+    state: 'active',
+    name_plate: namePlate,
+    became_supporter_at: '2026-05-31T22:00:00Z',
+    last_payment_at: '2026-05-31T22:00:00Z',
+    grace_until: '2026-06-30T22:00:00Z',
+    cancelled_at: null,
+    current_tier_key: tier,
+  },
+});
diff --git a/apps/web/src/app/layout.tsx b/apps/web/src/app/layout.tsx
index fa738e1..995b1fe 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/app/layout.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/app/layout.tsx
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@ import type { Metadata, Route } from 'next';
 import Link from 'next/link';
 import {
   getCurrentLocation,
+  getSupporterStatus,
   listSharedWithMe,
   type ResolvedLocation,
+  type SupporterStatusDto,
 } from '@/lib/api';
 import { logger } from '@/lib/logger';
 import { getCategoryBundle } from '@/lib/reference';
@@ -69,6 +71,11 @@ export default async function RootLayout({
   // making a >24h stay render as a frozen "here 23h 57m".
   let location: ResolvedLocation | null = null;
   let inboundShareCount = 0;
+  // Caller's own supporter status — drives the TopBar chip so the
+  // user sees their recognition on every page, not just /u/<handle>.
+  // Fail-soft to null so a hiccup on /v1/me/supporter doesn't blank
+  // the chrome.
+  let supporter: SupporterStatusDto | null = null;
   // Pulled at the layout level so the TopBar's LocationChip can link
   // its location text to /kb/location/{slug}. The endpoint caches
   // server-side for 1h and is fetched (cached) by every signed-in
@@ -76,11 +83,13 @@ export default async function RootLayout({
   // aggregate. Failures degrade to plain-text chip rendering.
   let locationCatalog: ReferenceCatalog = EMPTY_CATEGORY_BUNDLE.catalog;
   if (session) {
-    const [locResult, sharedResult, catalogResult] = await Promise.allSettled([
-      getCurrentLocation(session.token),
-      listSharedWithMe(session.token),
-      getCategoryBundle('location'),
-    ]);
+    const [locResult, sharedResult, catalogResult, supporterResult] =
+      await Promise.allSettled([
+        getCurrentLocation(session.token),
+        listSharedWithMe(session.token),
+        getCategoryBundle('location'),
+        getSupporterStatus(session.token),
+      ]);
     if (locResult.status === 'fulfilled') {
       location = locResult.value;
     } else {
@@ -111,6 +120,14 @@ export default async function RootLayout({
         'topbar location catalog fetch failed',
       );
     }
+    if (supporterResult.status === 'fulfilled') {
+      supporter = supporterResult.value;
+    } else {
+      logger.warn(
+        { err: supporterResult.reason },
+        'topbar supporter status fetch failed',
+      );
+    }
   }
 
   return (
@@ -130,6 +147,7 @@ export default async function RootLayout({
                 location?.entered_at_is_lower_bound ?? false
               }
               locationCatalog={locationCatalog}
+              supporter={supporter}
             />
             <LeftRail
               handle={session.claimedHandle}
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/shell/TopBar.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/shell/TopBar.tsx
index 55ac7fe..38b596f 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/shell/TopBar.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/shell/TopBar.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 import Link from 'next/link';
-import type { ResolvedLocation } from '@/lib/api';
+import type { ResolvedLocation, SupporterStatusDto } from '@/lib/api';
 import type { ReferenceCatalog } from '@/lib/reference-types';
 import { CompassStar } from '@/components/CompassStar';
 import { LocationChip } from '@/components/LocationPill';
+import { SupporterChip } from '@/components/SupporterChip';
 import { DrawerToggle } from './DrawerToggle';
 
 interface Props {
@@ -36,6 +37,16 @@ interface Props {
    *  text links to `/kb/location/{slug}` with the EntityHoverCard.
    *  Pass from the layout's `getCategoryBundle('location').catalog`. */
   locationCatalog?: ReferenceCatalog;
+  /**
+   * Caller's own supporter status. When state is `active` or
+   * `lapsed`, a compact `<SupporterChip size="sm">` renders next to
+   * the handle pill so the user sees their recognition on every
+   * page. `null` (default) hides the chip — same posture as the
+   * existing handle / location chip pattern. Sourced at the layout
+   * level (`Promise.allSettled` with the other shell fetches) so
+   * the TopBar stays presentational.
+   */
+  supporter?: SupporterStatusDto | null;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -51,6 +62,7 @@ export function TopBar({
   dwellStart = null,
   dwellIsLowerBound = false,
   locationCatalog,
+  supporter = null,
 }: Props) {
   return (
     <header className="ss-topbar">
@@ -115,6 +127,10 @@ export function TopBar({
           @{handle}
         </span>
       )}
+      {/* Supporter chip (compact size) sits to the right of the
+          handle. Returns null for state=none so non-supporters see
+          nothing — same posture as the existing handle render. */}
+      <SupporterChip status={supporter} size="sm" />
     </header>
   );
 }