Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, became a self-made billionaire by pioneering a high-stakes, high-investment YouTube content formula and relentlessly reinvesting his earnings into his brand. He officially became a billionaire in June 2024 at age 26, with an empire that generated $223 million in revenue in 2023. NDTV +4
MrBeast began his YouTube channel in 2012. Twelve years later, it had attracted more subscribers than any other account on the platform. The teenager initially posted gaming videos of himself playing Minecraft, Call of Duty, and other titles, as well as clips with commentary about other YouTubers.
By early 2024, documents from a court case about his MrBeast Burgers business showed his empire generated $223 million in revenue in 2023 and was on track to hit $700 million in 2024. These financial details helped confirm that MrBeast officially became a billionaire in June 2024 at age 26.
In a March 2022 podcast, Jimmy Donaldson — better known by his YouTube handle, MrBeast — opened up about living with Crohn's disease. “I'm probably one of the least energetic people you'll ever meet,” 24-year-old Donaldson told the host. “I get tired very easily. I take a lot of naps and stuff like that.”
MrBeast has said that being a billionaire doesn't mean holding billions in cash. Most of his wealth comes from equity in Beast Industries, valued in the billions on paper. He reinvests heavily into content and businesses, so his personal cash can be relatively low.
How many hours a day does MrBeast work? As a content creator and YouTuber, MrBeast typically works long hours, often 10 to 12 hours a day, to plan, film, and edit videos. The workload can vary depending on project demands and production schedules, especially during busy filming periods or special campaigns.
MrBeast – 470 million subscribers
As of June 2024, MrBeast is the most-subscribed channel on YouTube. And it makes sense.
The final challenge was about figuring out which of the five remaining contestants had the million dollar briefcase in a "game of bluff". YouTube animator Jaiden Animations won the cash prize which she intends to use to allow some of her subscribers to attend art school.
MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) is now the only billionaire under 30 who did not inherit his wealth. At 27, he reached a $1 billion net worth through his YouTube empire, brand partnerships, and a major content deal with Amazon Prime.
He began posting videos to YouTube in early 2012 under the handle MrBeast6000. His early uploads ranged from Let's Play videos to estimations of other YouTubers' wealth. In 2017, after his video "I Counted to 100,000!" drew tens of thousands of views within days, his productions quickly became more extravagant.
Responding to critics who remarked that his eyes often look "off" or "unsmiling", Donaldson clarified, "I'm borderline blind in my right eye; the reason they look off is that I have to squint... to see better, even with my contacts in."
MrBeast. "I don't want to have a kid unless I'm a phenomenal father," the content creator, who is engaged to fellow gamer Thea Booysen, said. "Kids make you more successful — I hate when people say that kind of stuff, because, I agree, it's a sacrifice when you're actually a good father," he followed up.
"It came down to," Jake said, "my piece no longer fit the puzzle." He didn't have a place on the channel anymore, but at the same time, he was itching to start pursuing an independent content creation career. Because of that, Jake the Viking and MrBeast were able to leave things on good terms.