Last Updated on March 6, 2024
James Donaldson, popularly known as MrBeast, is an American YouTuber who’s famous for his jaw-dropping stunts and philanthropy. MrBeast is credited with introducing and popularizing a YouTube video genre that focuses on pulling incredibly expensive stunts.
Born on May 7, 1998, in Greenville, North Carolina, the young YouTuber is also the co-founder of Team Trees, which fundraises for the Arbor Day Foundation.
Quick Facts
Full Name: | James Donaldson |
Popular Name: | MrBeast |
Gender: | Male |
Birth Date: | May 7, 1998 |
Age: | 25 years |
Parents: | Unknown |
Siblings: | CJ Donaldson |
Birth Place: | Greenville, North Carolina |
Nationality: | American |
Ethnicity: | White |
Education: | Greenville Christian Academy |
Marital Status: | Unmarried |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Wife/Spouse: | N/A |
Children: | None |
Dating: | dating Maddy Spidell |
Net Worth: | 16 million |
Source of Wealth: | YouTubing and Endorsement Deals |
Height: | 6′ 3″ (1.9 m) |
Weight: | Unknown |
Early Life and Career Information
MrBeast attended the Greenville Christian Academy, from where he graduated in 2016. However, he dropped out of college so he could pursue his passion for YouTubing full-time.
MrBeast uploaded his first YouTube video in February 2012, when he was only 13 years. He spent the subsequent years trying to crack the YouTube algorithms by posting content he believed would go viral.
In 2015, MrBeast started posting “worst intro” videos, and it’s then that his YouTube channel began racking up thousands of subscribers and views. Around mid-2016, the channel had garnered over 30, 000 subscribers.
But MrBeast’s first viral content came in January 2017, where the star shared a video of himself counting up to 100,000. He would later reveal that the stunt took him a whopping 44 hours.
However, it was worth the effort, as he had now somewhat cracked YouTube’s algorithms for viral content. He uploaded a couple of more videos with similar stunts, such as watching Jake Paul’s music video “It’s Everyday Bro” for 10 hours straight.
MrBeast has also spun a fidget spinner for a full day, attempted to break glass with 100 megaphones, and tried to stay in undies for 24 hours. Other notable stunts by the YouTuber include stopping a bullet using 10, 000 pieces of paper and doing more than 2, 000 miles in a single Uber ride.
As of November 2017, MrBeast’s YouTube channel had crossed the 1 million subscriber mark. The star has since diversified to incorporate philanthropy stunts.
Some of his philanthropy stunts include:
Giving away $100, 000 in items to homeless shelters,
Giving away $10,000 to a Los Angeles animal shelter,
Donating $32, 000 towards the Veterans Army Wounded Warrior Program, and
Donating $70, 000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
In addition to these donations, MrBeast has also tipped pizza delivery guys up to $10, 000, donated cash to attractive Twitch streamers, and given away cars for free.
MrBeast’s Net Worth
MrBeast’s net worth, as of 2023, was an estimated $16 million. He has made much of his money through his YouTube channel.
By 2020, MrBeast’s YouTube channel had garnered more than 40 million subscribers and received over 7 billion views. Reports indicate that the channel can receive up to 8 million views per day, which translates to a daily gross income of $40, 000.
MrBeast also earns from the numerous brands that sponsor some of his YouTube videos. Some of the brands that the star has promoted through his YouTube channel include Quidd, Honey, TikTok, and CSGO Lotto.
It’s also worth noting that most YouTube creators earn through Adsense. However, MrBeast is yet to disclose how much he makes from Adsense. That makes it a bit difficult to put a definite figure on his net worth, considering that Adsense’s average cost per mille (CPM) differs. CPM essentially refers to how much a monetized video earns per 1,000 views.
But here’s the thing – the videos that MrBeast regularly post on his YouTube channel are unlikely to be demonetized. So, it’s safe to imagine that the star earns some decent money in terms of Adsense revenue, putting his average net worth even higher.
What we know for sure is that MrBeast’s YouTube channel is destined for greatness. That’s because of his unique revenue model. Apparently, the YouTuber is the only social media influencer that leverages philanthropy to grow his brand.
In less than two years, MrBeast had given away more than $1 million, and he only keeps going stronger. What makes his viral giveaway stunts even more believable is the fact that they’re mostly directed at complete strangers.
Besides YouTube views and brand endorsements, MrBeast also earns a significant amount of money selling merchandise on his website. On his e-commerce store, MrBeast sells various clothing, including headwear, tees, and hoodies.
Life Lessons from MrBeast
MrBeast’s success story as a YouTuber reminds us of the importance of experimenting with new ideas and tricks till we find something that works. When he began on YouTube, he had no idea about the kind of content that would go viral. But he was able to master YouTube algorithms in two years, after experimenting with several video contents.
MrBeast is also proof that wealth is only meaningful to the extent that we use it to help others. He is unarguably the most philanthropic personality ever to have come out of social media.
Last but not least, MrBeast reminds us to always enjoy the finer things in life. Besides his philanthropy stunts, he also shares videos of himself having the time of his life. A notable mention is the 2,000 miles Uber ride he did in a single day.
Here are some of memorable quotes by MrBeast:
“Guys, if a vending machine ever stole money from you, just hit it with a cannon ball.”
“If you think of it quietly, you will see it just like me, a quote to believe in.”
“If you yeet one thing that has been yoted, the yeet gods will help you.”
Conclusion
MrBeast isn’t just one of the most successful YouTubers of our time. He also ranks among the most philanthropic young celebrities. Through his YouTube channel, you’ll not only get entertained. You’ll also pick a few lessons on love, kindness, and generosity.