MrBeast is an American YouTuber, internet figure, businessperson, and humanitarian.
Renowned for his dynamic, well-produced content, he orchestrates intricate challenges and sizable giveaways. Boasting more than 254 million subscribers, he holds the title of the most-subscribed individual on YouTube and the second-most-subscribed channel globally.
Early life and Education 
James Stephen Donaldson, born on May 7, 1998, in Wichita, Kansas, to Sue Donaldson, primarily grew up in Greenville, North Carolina. His upbringing involved frequent relocations and the supervision of au pairs due to his parents’ demanding work schedules and military service. Witnessing his parents’ divorce in 2007, he went on to graduate from Greenville Christian Academy, a small private evangelical Christian high school, in 2016. Although he briefly attended East Carolina University, he ultimately dropped out. Following his departure from university, Donaldson and his friends delved into deciphering YouTube’s recommendation algorithm, striving to uncover the secrets behind creating viral videos. Recalling this period, he described a five-year span of relentless dedication to studying virality and the YouTube algorithm, spending his days immersed in analysis alongside fellow YouTubers.
Career
Donaldson kickstarted his YouTube journey in February 2012, at the tender age of 13, operating under the alias “MrBeast6000.” His initial uploads spanned Let’s Plays, with a focus on titles like Minecraft and Call of Duty: Black Ops II, alongside content evaluating the wealth of fellow YouTubers, offering guidance to aspiring creators, and weighing in on YouTube controversies. In 2015 and 2016, he gained traction with his “Worst Intros on YouTube” series, a playful critique of video introductions, which contributed to his rising popularity. By mid-2016, he had amassed approximately 30,000 subscribers. Opting to pursue YouTube full-time, Donaldson parted ways with East Carolina University in the fall of 2016, a decision that his mother disapproved of, leading to his departure from the family home. As his channel burgeoned, Donaldson enlisted the help of childhood friends Kris Tyson (formerly Chris Tyson), Chandler Hallow, Garrett Ronalds, and Jake Franklin. Although Franklin exited the group in 2020, Karl Jacobs, formerly a cameraman, assumed his position after being promoted.
In January 2017, Jimmy Donaldson gained widespread recognition with his nearly day-long video of counting to 100,000, marking a significant breakthrough for him. The feat consumed 40 hours, with portions sped up to fit within a 24-hour timeframe. During this period, Donaldson’s popularity surged as he engaged in daring stunts, such as attempting to shatter glass with a hundred megaphones, observing paint dry for an hour, and endeavoring to endure 24 hours underwater, albeit ending prematurely due to health concerns. By 2018, his unconventional acts of generosity, including giving away $1 million, earned him the moniker of “YouTube’s biggest philanthropist.”
Amidst the PewDiePie vs T-Series rivalry in 2018, Donaldson actively supported PewDiePie by purchasing billboards and various advertisements to boost his subscriber count. His allegiance was further displayed during Super Bowl LIII when he secured multiple seats for himself and his team, donning shirts emblazoned with “Sub 2 PewDiePie.”
In March 2019, Donaldson organized and filmed a real-life battle royale competition in Los Angeles, offering a prize pool of $200,000 in collaboration with Apex Legends, sponsored by Electronic Arts.
Donaldson faced accusations of using counterfeit money in his video titled “I Opened A FREE BANK,” published in November 2019. He later clarified that the fake money was used as a safety precaution, with participants receiving genuine checks afterward.
In April 2020, Donaldson hosted a rock, paper, scissors competition stream featuring 32 influencers, setting a record as YouTube’s most-watched live Original event at the time, with 662,000 concurrent viewers. Subsequently, in October 2020, he organized another influencer tournament, this time centered on trivia, with a grand prize of $300,000.
Entering mainstream success from 2021 onwards, Donaldson released “Youtube Rewind 2020, Thank God It’s Over” on January 1, 2021. In the video, he advocated for greater involvement of YouTubers in the Rewind process and acknowledged PewDiePie’s influence on his own Rewind. A month later, he inked a content distribution deal with Jellysmack, encompassing platforms like Facebook and Snapchat.
In February 2021, during a Clubhouse session, Jimmy Donaldson removed entrepreneur Farokh Sarmad from the room, prompting allegations of racism from Sarmad. However, other participants contested Sarmad’s claims, suggesting that Donaldson’s actions aimed to create space for inclusivity by allowing more women to participate.
In November 2021, Donaldson gained significant attention with his “$456,000 Squid Game in Real Life!” video, emulating the survival drama series Squid Game with 456 contestants competing for a cash prize. Despite its popularity, the video faced criticism for misinterpreting the anti-capitalist message of the series, as argued in a Vice review. Nonetheless, Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk responded positively to such recreations and parodies.
In December 2021, Donaldson organized his third influencer tournament, offering a grand prize of $1,000,000 to 15 competitors. His financial success continued into 2022, with Forbes ranking him as YouTube’s highest-earning creator, estimating his earnings at $54 million for the year.
On July 28, 2022, Donaldson achieved a milestone by surpassing 100 million subscribers on his main channel, becoming the fifth channel and the second individual YouTuber to reach this mark. Later that year, he secured the Guinness World Record for “Most Subscribers for an Individual Male on YouTube,” with his MrBeast channel boasting over 112 million subscribers. Additionally, in November 2022, he achieved one billion video views within 30 days on his main YouTube channel. By October 15, 2023, Donaldson’s subscriber count exceeded 200 million. Notably, his YouTube Shorts video titled “Would You Fly to Paris for a Baguette?” became the most-watched video on his main channel, amassing over 1 billion views and 40 million likes as of January 2024.
Personal life
Donaldson identifies as an introvert, attributing his withdrawn nature to his intense focus on YouTube and his challenging battle with Crohn’s disease. His mother, Sue, links his reserved demeanor to their frequent moves and his health struggles.
In terms of relationships, Donaldson dated fellow YouTuber Maddy Spidell from 2019 to 2022 before entering a relationship with gaming streamer Thea Booysen in 2022.
In June 2023, Donaldson declined an invitation to explore the Titanic wreckage aboard the OceanGate submersible Titan, which later tragically imploded, claiming all five occupants’ lives.
Regarding personal beliefs, Donaldson publicly announced his shift away from evangelical Christianity to agnosticism in April 2022, expressing disagreement with Christian views on homosexuality. He acknowledged the impact of his upbringing in the Bible Belt and distanced himself from anti-LGBT rhetoric.
While he faced criticism for past use of homophobic language, Donaldson has since matured and removed offensive tweets. He defended his childhood friend Kris Tyson, who came out as a trans woman, against transphobic backlash.
Donaldson adopts an apolitical stance to maintain broad appeal for his charity efforts. However, he hinted at a potential presidential run in the future, emphasizing the need for younger leadership in the U.S.
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Donaldson’s popularity on YouTube is undeniable, with a majority of respondents in a poll from Insider viewing him favorably. His channel resonates strongly with younger audiences, and his unique approach of blending philanthropy with entertainment has cultivated a highly positive public image. By linking audience engagement to charitable acts and maintaining a direct, relatable connection with viewers, he has built a large and devoted fanbase.
However, Donaldson has faced criticism regarding his motives and the ethical implications of his content. Some accuse him of exploiting poverty for views and characterize his philanthropic efforts as “charity porn,” arguing they fail to address underlying societal issues. In response, Donaldson emphasizes that he does not profit from his philanthropy and underscores the importance of government intervention in addressing systemic inequities.
Despite the criticism, Donaldson’s ascent to become the most-subscribed YouTuber signifies a shift towards high-production, elaborate content on the platform, resembling a “television-like experience.” His innovative approach has inspired fellow creators to push boundaries and explore new formats and genres, with his influence extending to aspiring YouTubers who seek to emulate his success through extreme challenge videos. This phenomenon has been dubbed the “MrBeast-ification of YouTube,” highlighting Donaldson’s significant impact on the platform’s content landscape.
Net Worth
Estimated to be over 500 million dollars