MrBeast Net Worth: The Complete Story Behind YouTube’s Richest Creator

When Jimmy Donaldson uploaded a video of himself counting to 100,000 back in 2017, nobody could have predicted that this 19-year-old kid from North Carolina would become YouTube’s first billionaire. Today, everyone knows him as MrBeast—the guy who gives away cars like candy, recreates Squid Game with real money, and somehow turned being generous into the most successful business model on the internet.

Who Is MrBeast?

Let’s start from the beginning. James Stephen Donaldson was born on May 7, 1998, in Wichita, Kansas, but grew up in Greenville, North Carolina. He was mainly raised by his mother, Susan Parisher, who worked long hours in the military, and his childhood was marked by frequent moves. He stands 6 feet, 5 inches tall and played baseball and basketball throughout his youth before being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 15, which forced him to give up competitive sports.

At just 13 years old in 2012, Jimmy started his YouTube journey under the username “MrBeast6000.” His early content was exactly what you’d expect from a teenager—gaming videos, commentary about other YouTubers, and those cringeworthy “Worst Intros” series that first got him noticed. By mid-2016, Donaldson had around 30,000 subscribers, which is respectable but nothing special.

What happened next changed everything. Donaldson dropped out of college in late 2016 to pursue a full-time career as a YouTuber, and his mother disapproved so strongly that she forced him to leave the family home. Talk about believing in yourself.

MrBeast Biography Table

The Moment Everything Changed

Here’s where the MrBeast story gets interesting. In January 2017, Jimmy posted a video that would become his breakthrough: spending 44 hours counting to 100,000. It sounds completely insane, and it was. But it worked. That single video went viral and pushed him past 1 million subscribers practically overnight.

He’d discovered something that seems obvious now but was revolutionary then: people on the internet love watching other people do ridiculous things with money. So he doubled down, creating bigger and more expensive stunts that rewarded participants with life-changing amounts of cash.

On July 28, 2022, Donaldson surpassed 100 million subscribers on his main channel, making him the fifth channel and the second individual YouTuber to achieve the milestone. But he didn’t stop there. On June 2, 2024, Donaldson surpassed India-based music label T-Series for the title of the most subscribed channel on YouTube, and by June 2025, he became the first YouTuber to surpass 400 million subscribers.

MrBeast Net Worth: How Much Is He Really Worth?

Here’s the number everyone wants to know. With a reported net worth of $2.6 billion, MrBeast is absolutely a billionaire. Yes, you read that right—billion with a “B.”

But here’s what makes his wealth story different from most billionaires. Unlike many other billionaires, Donaldson started his career from the bottom and worked his way up. He’s the only self-made billionaire under 30 who didn’t inherit a fortune.

The numbers are staggering. Forbes ranked him first among the highest-paid YouTube creators in 2024, and estimated his net worth at $500 million in 2022. But that estimate was conservative and based on limited information. A court case related to MrBeast Burgers in 2024 showed that he had made $223 million in 2023 and was on track to make another $700 million in 2024.

The real revelation came when his company Beast Industries raised funding. In 2025, the company raised money at a valuation of $5.2 billion in a round led by Alpha Wave Global. If MrBeast owns a majority stake—which reports suggest he does—that puts his personal net worth at over $2.5 billion on paper.

How Does MrBeast Actually Make His Money?

Here’s where it gets fascinating. Most people think MrBeast just makes money from YouTube ads, but that’s barely scratching the surface.

YouTube Empire

First, there’s his YouTube network. We’re not talking about one channel—MrBeast runs multiple channels including MrBeast (his main channel with over 451 million subscribers), Beast Gaming, Beast Reacts, MrBeast 2, and Beast Philanthropy. Collectively, his channels now boast over 470 million subscribers.

But here’s the crazy part: MrBeast revealed in a 2024 interview that he brings in $600 million to $700 million per year, but he doesn’t believe he’s rich as he reinvests his money to make content. He’s essentially running a Hollywood studio disguised as a YouTube channel.

Feastables: The Chocolate Empire

In January 2022, MrBeast launched Feastables, his own chocolate brand. This wasn’t just slapping his logo on existing candy bars—he built an actual food company. The launch campaign included a sweepstakes worth more than $1,000,000, channeling serious Willy Wonka energy.

The results? By 2024, the brand generated approximately $215 million in net revenue. For context, that’s more annual revenue than some Fortune 500 companies had when they started out.

MrBeast Burger: Fast Food Revolution

In December 2020, MrBeast did something that seemed impossible: he launched a restaurant chain without building a single restaurant. His team partnered with Virtual Dining Concepts so existing kitchens could license the menu and fulfill delivery orders through third-party apps.

The concept exploded, expanding to over 2,000 locations worldwide. However, the venture hit some bumps. Donaldson said in 2024 that he was moving on from the venture and sought to close it because of quality concerns that he believed were hurting his brand. It’s a reminder that even MrBeast’s ventures aren’t guaranteed successes—but his willingness to walk away from a damaged brand shows business maturity.

Beast Games: The Amazon Jackpot

The newest addition to MrBeast’s empire might be his biggest yet. On March 18, 2024, Jimmy Donaldson announced that he had secured a $100 million deal with Amazon MGM Studios to produce a reality television series titled Beast Games for Prime Video.

The show features 1,000 contestants competing for a $5 million prize—advertised as the largest single cash prize in reality television history. Beast Games debuted on Amazon Prime Video on December 19, 2024, and consisted of ten episodes, and the results exceeded everyone’s expectations.

The series quickly became Prime Video’s most-watched unscripted show ever, amassing 50 million viewers just 25 days after its premiere. Amazon was so impressed that the show was renewed for two additional seasons in May 2025.

The Philanthropy That Built an Empire

What makes MrBeast unique isn’t just the money he makes—it’s what he does with it. His entire brand is built around giving money away, which sounds like a terrible business model until you realize it’s actually genius.

He co-created Team Trees, a fundraiser for the Arbor Day Foundation that has raised over $24 million, with each dollar planting one tree. Then came Team Seas, which raised over $30 million to remove trash from oceans and waterways. In 2025, he launched Team Water, raising over $40 million for clean water initiatives.

His Beast Philanthropy channel operates on a remarkable principle: 100% of advertising revenue, brand deals, and merchandise sales go directly to charity. The channel has distributed over 15 million free meals and funded countless projects worldwide.

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The Personal Side of MrBeast

Despite his massive fame, MrBeast keeps his personal life relatively private. He’s the middle child with an older brother, CJ, and a younger sister whose identity he hasn’t revealed publicly. His parents divorced in 2007, and he isn’t in contact with his father.

He dated YouTuber Maddy Spidell from 2019 to 2022, and he began a relationship with gaming streamer Thea Booysen later that year. On Christmas Day 2024, Donaldson announced his engagement to Booysen on January 1, 2025.

Donaldson has described himself as an introvert, saying his focus on YouTube leaves little time for a social life. His mother, Sue, now serves as the chief compliance officer of MrBeast LLC and manages his banking and personal affairs. “I don’t have access to any of my bank accounts,” MrBeast told Time in 2024. “I have a CFO and everything, but my mom is the one who has access to the master bank account.”

MrBeast Social Media Links

What’s Next for MrBeast?

The trajectory seems clear: MrBeast isn’t just building a YouTube channel—he’s building a media empire that will outlive YouTube itself. With Beast Games renewed for two more seasons, Feastables expanding globally, and new ventures constantly in development, his influence continues to grow.

In 2025, he announced a collaboration with James Patterson on a thriller novel slated for publication by HarperCollins in 2026, proving he’s willing to expand into every form of media imaginable.

During a September 2022 podcast appearance, he joked that he might run for president “in like 20 years”, and honestly? Given his trajectory, don’t bet against him.

Wrapping It Up

MrBeast’s journey from a 13-year-old kid making gaming videos in his room to a billionaire media mogul is nothing short of remarkable. His net worth of $2.6 billion puts him among the wealthiest content creators in history, but what sets him apart is how he got there.

He discovered that giving money away could make you more money, that authenticity beats polish, and that taking massive risks—like dropping out of college against his mother’s wishes—sometimes pays off in ways nobody could predict. Whether he’s giving away private islands, feeding millions through Beast Philanthropy, or breaking streaming records with Beast Games, MrBeast continues to redefine what’s possible for content creators.

The best part? He’s only 27 years old. Whatever comes next is going to be absolutely wild to watch.

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Frequently Asked Questions About MrBeast

1. How did MrBeast get so rich?

MrBeast built his fortune through multiple revenue streams including YouTube advertising (earning $600-700 million annually), his chocolate brand Feastables ($215 million in revenue), brand sponsorships worth millions per deal, merchandise sales, and his $100 million Amazon deal for Beast Games. His company Beast Industries was valued at $5.2 billion in 2025, making his majority stake worth over $2.5 billion.

2. Is MrBeast actually a billionaire?

Yes, MrBeast is a billionaire with a net worth estimated at $2.6 billion as of 2025. He achieved this status in 2024 at age 26, making him the youngest self-made billionaire under 30 and the only one in that age group who didn’t inherit wealth.

3. Does MrBeast really give away all his money?

MrBeast reinvests the vast majority of his earnings back into making more content and funding bigger giveaways. While he doesn’t give away literally everything, he’s committed to massive philanthropy. His Beast Philanthropy channel donates 100% of its revenue to charity, and he’s repeatedly stated he plans to give away all his money before he dies.

4. How many subscribers does MrBeast have?

As of 2025, MrBeast has over 451 million subscribers on his main YouTube channel, making him the most-subscribed individual on YouTube. Across all his channels (including Beast Gaming, Beast Reacts, and Beast Philanthropy), he has over 470 million total subscribers.

5. What is MrBeast’s real name and age?

MrBeast’s real name is James Stephen Donaldson, though he goes by Jimmy. He was born on May 7, 1998, making him 27 years old as of 2025.

6. Is MrBeast married?

MrBeast is not married yet but got engaged to Thea Booysen, a gaming streamer and author, on Christmas Day 2024. He publicly announced the engagement on January 1, 2025.

7. How much does MrBeast make per video?

While exact figures vary, MrBeast spends approximately $1 million or more per video on his main channel, and his videos can generate millions in ad revenue plus additional income from sponsorships. His overall earnings reach approximately $50 million per month from all sources combined, though most of this is reinvested into future content.