Most would probably lose steam before they even got to 100. But for Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, that was the whole point. The seemingly impossible stunt was the subject of one of the then 18-year-old’s first-ever YouTube videos. Little did he know the domino effect such videos would set off. Now 27, Donaldson sits atop an online content empire: With 435 million YouTube subscribers and over 95 billion lifetime views, he’s among the internet’s biggest stars worldwide. His accomplishments reach far beyond viral videos: They include a nine-figure Amazon TV deal, a multimillion-dollar snack company, and even a forthcoming novel coauthored with James Patterson.
Donaldson’s meteoric ascent has given him ambitions of building a diversified entertainment empire, one he hopes that one day rivals Disney. But it hasn’t all been driven by daily vlogs or video game livestreams like other content creators. Much of MrBeast’s content reflects a simple but profound focus: showing the impact of generosity.
That mission has defined not only his content, but some of his business ventures. His most-watched videos include posts that feature him cleaning up the world’s dirtiest beaches, building wells in Africa, and giving away homes. Beyond YouTube, through his nonprofit Beast Philanthropy, Donaldson has given away over $300 million worth of food (about 42 million meals), donated $5 million in aid to Ukrainian refugees, and provided $500,000 in school supplies and technology. He’s also funded 2,000 prosthetics, 100 cleft palate surgeries, and 600 e-bikes for people in need.
