Do Followers get My Direct Messages?

All the literature about facebook messaging I have gone through still does not answer my question...

If someone is following me on my Personal FB Profile. But they are not my friend, and I message them...Does it go directly to their Chat? Or Message Requests? Or do they not get it at all?

I know from this article (below) and testing it out first hand. If someone is my friend and I message them. They automatically get the message popping up in their Chats.
https://www.facebook.com/help/208160052556047

However, I get a lot of friend requests, and those people automatically become my followers (before I accept the request). I want to message them and see if I know them or what they are interested in, before I accept their friend request. Since FB Profile guidelines Cap you at 5,000 friends.

But I want to know if they are all receiving those messages or if it is a waste.