: The Ultimate Guide to the YouTube Superstar

MrBeast, born James Stephen Donaldson, is an American YouTuber, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who has become one of the most influential figures in the digital world [citation:2]. With over 500 million subscribers on YouTube and a business empire worth billions, his journey from a shy kid in North Carolina to a global icon is inspiring. This article provides a detailed look into his life, career, businesses, and more, answering questions like who is MrBeast, what is his net worth, and many others.

Quick Biography Table

Real Name	James Stephen "Jimmy" Donaldson [citation:2]
Nickname	MrBeast, MrBeast6000 [citation:2]
Date of Birth	May 7, 1998 [citation:2]
Age	28 years old (as of 2026)
Birth Place	Wichita, Kansas, USA [citation:2]
Nationality	American [citation:15]
Religion	Publicly unavailable.
Profession	YouTuber, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
Education	Dropped out of East Carolina University [citation:14]
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 3 in) [citation:15]
Weight	Publicly unavailable.
Parents	Mother: Sue Donaldson [citation:4]
Siblings	Older brother: CJ Donaldson [citation:4]
Relationship Status	Engaged to Thea Booysen [citation:6]
Children	None
Current Residence	Greenville, North Carolina, USA
Languages	English
Net Worth	Estimated in the billions (Forbes estimated $85M in 2025; Beast Industries valued at $5B) [citation:3][citation:8]
Income Sources	YouTube, Feastables, MrBeast Burger, Brand Deals, Investments [citation:8]
YouTube Channel	MrBeast
Subscribers	Over 500 million [citation:7]
Total Views	Billions (over 40 billion on the Squid Game video alone)
Instagram	@mrbeast
X (Twitter)	@MrBeast
Facebook	MrBeast
Website	MrBeast.com
Email	Publicly unavailable.

Who is MrBeast?

MrBeast is the alias of James Stephen Donaldson, a 28-year-old American YouTuber and entrepreneur [citation:2]. He is renowned for creating high-production, expensive viral stunts and giveaways, often involving significant sums of money, extravagant prizes, and large-scale real-world recreations of popular culture phenomena. His success has led to him becoming the most-subscribed individual creator on YouTube [citation:7]. Beyond content creation, he is a savvy businessman, heading Beast Industries, which encompasses a chocolate brand (Feastables), a burger chain, and various other ventures [citation:8][citation:10]. His work often blends philanthropy with entertainment, funding large charitable projects through his channel and Beast Philanthropy [citation:10].

Early Life

Jimmy Donaldson was born on May 7, 1998, in Wichita, Kansas, and grew up in Greenville, North Carolina [citation:4]. He was described as an "extremely quiet child" [citation:14]. His parents separated when he was young, and his mother, Sue, raised him and his older brother CJ [citation:4]. He has a brother named CJ [citation:4]. He struggled with health issues as a child, including Crohn's disease.

Education

After graduating from high school, MrBeast briefly attended East Carolina University but dropped out to pursue his YouTube career full-time [citation:14]. His deep obsession with the platform from a young age led him to forgo traditional education in favor of building his online empire. He started his channel in 2012, at age 13 [citation:7].

Career Journey

First YouTube Video

MrBeast uploaded his first YouTube video in February 2012 under the handle "MrBeast6000" [citation:2][citation:11]. His early content consisted of gaming videos and commentary, but he struggled to gain traction for years.

YouTube Growth Story

For years, MrBeast's channel remained relatively small. His breakthrough came in 2017 with a video titled "counting to 100,000" [citation:10]. The video, which was a grueling 40-hour challenge, went viral and marked the beginning of his unique content style. This led to him reinvesting all his earnings into creating even more elaborate videos, a strategy that fueled exponential growth. By 2024, he had become the most-subscribed individual creator on the platform, and in 2026, he became the first to surpass 500 million subscribers [citation:7]. His growth is attributed to his high-budget stunts, philanthropy, and deep understanding of YouTube's algorithm.

Most Popular Videos

• Real-life Squid Game: A massive recreation of the Netflix show with a $456,000 prize, which garnered billions of views .
• I Gave $100,000 to a Homeless Man: One of his many philanthropic videos that resonated widely.
• I Bought the World's Most Expensive... A series of videos where he purchases and reviews extremely expensive items.
• 7 Days in a Nuclear Bunker: A challenge video testing his endurance and providing high entertainment.

Businesses and Brand Collaborations

Feastables

In 2022, MrBeast launched Feastables, a snack brand that started with chocolate bars [citation:10]. The brand became a massive success, generating hundreds of millions in revenue and accounting for a significant portion of his income .

MrBeast Burger

He also launched a virtual restaurant chain, MrBeast Burger, which operated through ghost kitchens. While initially successful, the venture faced legal challenges and was eventually shut down [citation:10].

Beast Industries

This is his parent company, valued at around $5 billion. MrBeast owns "a little over half" of the company, making his personal stake worth over $2.5 billion [citation:8]. The company manages his various business lines, including Feastables and Viewstats [citation:8].

Amazon & Brand Deals

MrBeast signed a massive deal with Amazon to create a reality competition show, "Beast Games," for $100 million [citation:10]. He also has lucrative brand collaborations with companies like Shopify, Honey, and others.

Other Ventures

He has also invested in various other businesses, including the financial services platform Step, which he acquired in 2026 [citation:1].

Awards and Achievements

• Most-subscribed individual YouTuber [citation:7].
• First YouTuber to reach 500 million subscribers [citation:7].
• Creator of the Year at the Streamy Awards [citation:2].
• Forbes 30 Under 30 [citation:2].
• Guinness World Records for various subscriber milestones and online influence [citation:10].
• Multiple YouTube Diamond and Golden Play Buttons.

Charity Work

MrBeast is known for his philanthropic efforts. He has donated millions to various causes, including:

• Team Trees: A campaign that raised over $20 million to plant 20 million trees [citation:10].
• Team Seas: A campaign to remove over 30 million pounds of trash from the ocean [citation:10].
• Beast Philanthropy: A dedicated charity channel that funds food banks, disaster relief, and other aid programs [citation:10].
• Individual Acts: He has also performed numerous individual acts of charity, such as giving away cars, cash, and even houses to strangers .

Interesting Facts

• He often claims to have "negative money" because he reinvests nearly all his earnings back into his content [citation:3].
• He owns a small neighborhood in North Carolina, where he houses his family, friends, and employees [citation:10].
• He has been uploading videos to YouTube since he was 13 years old [citation:7].
• His name "MrBeast" was originally a randomly generated Xbox gamertag [citation:5].
• He has been known to give away a private island and a Lamborghini in his videos [citation:10].

Personal Life

Relationship

MrBeast is currently engaged to Thea Booysen, a South African esports commentator, streamer, and author known as TheaBeasty [citation:6]. They were introduced by a mutual friend in 2022 and announced their engagement on January 2, 2025 [citation:6].

Lifestyle

Despite being a billionaire, MrBeast claims to live a relatively modest lifestyle in terms of personal spending [citation:3]. He is known to be a workaholic, often working 15-hour days to focus on creating content and growing his businesses. He lives in his hometown of Greenville, North Carolina, in a home he purchased for his team.

Car Collection & House

MrBeast has been seen driving various supercars, including a Lamborghini and a Tesla, which he often gives away in videos [citation:10]. He has purchased a neighborhood in his hometown for his team [citation:10].

Income Sources

• YouTube Ad Revenue: Generates significant income from the billions of views his videos receive.
• Feastables: His chocolate brand is considered a "cash cow" and generates hundreds of millions in revenue .
• MrBeast Burger: Despite its controversies, it generated revenue [citation:10].
• Brand Deals and Partnerships: High-value deals with major corporations.
• Amazon Deal: His "Beast Games" show on Amazon is estimated to be a $100 million deal [citation:10].
• Investments: His holding company, Beast Industries, owns various other businesses and assets [citation:8].

Net Worth Breakdown

Determining MrBeast's exact net worth is challenging due to the fluctuating valuation of his private company and his reinvestment strategy [citation:3]. However, available data paints a clear picture:

• Estimated Net Worth (June 2025): $85 million according to Forbes [citation:3].
• Company Valuation (Beast Industries): Valued at $5 billion in its most recent funding round [citation:3][citation:8].
• Personal Stake: MrBeast owns over 50% of Beast Industries, making his personal stake worth over $2.5 billion [citation:8].
• Annual Earnings (2025-2026): Estimated at $300 million, making him the highest-paid creator by a significant margin [citation:9].

Income Table

Source	Estimated Contribution	Details
Feastables (Chocolate)	40%	Generates over $2 billion annually
YouTube Ad Revenue	10%	Billions of views per month
Brand Deals	~20%	High-value corporate partnerships
Other Ventures	~30%	Includes MrBeast Burger, Viewstats, Amazon Deal, etc. [citation:8]

Net Worth Timeline

Year	Estimated Net Worth	Source
2023	$100 million	Various Sources
2024	$1 billion	Celebrity Net Worth [citation:14]
2025	$85 million (Forbes) / $2.5B+ (Equity)	Forbes, BI [citation:3][citation:8]
2026	$2.4 billion (Estimate)	News18 [citation:13]

Social Media Presence

Platform	Username	Followers/Subscribers
YouTube	@MrBeast	500 Million+
Instagram	@mrbeast	50 Million+
X (Twitter)	@MrBeast	30 Million+
TikTok	@mrbeast	100 Million+

Controversies

• Beast Games Production: Contestants from his Amazon show alleged unsafe conditions, including lack of food, medication, and unsafe challenges [citation:10]. Lawsuits were filed over the alleged mistreatment.
• MrBeast Burger: The business faced multiple lawsuits over the quality of the food, and he later sued the partner company [citation:10].
• Philanthropy Criticisms: Critics have accused him of using charity as a means to gain views rather than for pure altruism, though he has also been praised for the tangible impact [citation:10].

Latest News

• Acquisition of Step: In February 2026, MrBeast's company, Beast Industries, acquired the financial services platform Step [citation:1].
• 500 Million Subscribers: In June 2026, MrBeast became the first YouTuber to reach 500 million subscribers [citation:7].
• Beast Games: The Amazon series is undergoing review following the allegations of poor working conditions [citation:10].

Future Plans

MrBeast is expected to continue expanding his business empire, with potential launches of new product lines, new shows, and more international expansion. He remains focused on breaking his own records and creating more ambitious, larger-than-life content.

Frequently Asked Questions (20 Questions)

What is MrBeast's real name?

MrBeast's real name is James Stephen "Jimmy" Donaldson [citation:2].

How old is MrBeast?

MrBeast was born on May 7, 1998, making him 28 years old as of 2026 [citation:2].

What is MrBeast's net worth?

MrBeast's net worth is estimated to be in the billions. Forbes estimated his net worth at $85 million in 2025, but his company Beast Industries is valued at $5 billion, with his personal stake exceeding $2.5 billion [citation:3][citation:8].

Who is MrBeast's girlfriend?

MrBeast is engaged to Thea Booysen, a South African esports commentator, streamer, and author [citation:6].

How tall is MrBeast?

MrBeast is approximately 6 feet 3 inches (1.89 meters) tall [citation:15].

How many subscribers does MrBeast have?

MrBeast has over 500 million subscribers on his main YouTube channel, making him the most-subscribed individual creator on the platform [citation:7].

When did MrBeast start his YouTube channel?

MrBeast started his YouTube channel in 2012 at the age of 13 [citation:7].

What is MrBeast's most popular video?

MrBeast's most popular video is his recreation of Squid Game in real life, which has garnered billions of views .

What businesses does MrBeast own?

MrBeast owns Feastables (a chocolate brand), has launched MrBeast Burger, owns Viewstats, and runs Beast Industries, his parent company [citation:8][citation:10].

What is MrBeast's height?

MrBeast's height is 1.89 m (6 ft 3 in) [citation:15].

What is MrBeast's net worth in 2026?

While his net worth fluctuates, Forbes reported his net worth at $85 million in June 2025. However, his company Beast Industries was valued at $5 billion, and his ownership stake makes his personal net worth in the billions [citation:3][citation:13].

Is MrBeast married?

No, MrBeast is not married. He is engaged to Thea Booysen [citation:6].

Where does MrBeast live?

MrBeast lives in Greenville, North Carolina, USA [citation:4].

What is MrBeast's religion?

Publicly unavailable.

How much does MrBeast earn per video?

The cost to produce a MrBeast video can be up to $4 million, but his earnings are highly varied. He reinvests most of his revenue into bigger projects .

What are MrBeast's main sources of income?

His income comes from YouTube ad revenue, brand deals, and his businesses like Feastables and MrBeast Burger .

Is MrBeast a billionaire?

Yes, MrBeast is considered a billionaire. His personal net worth is estimated to be over $2.5 billion based on his stake in Beast Industries [citation:8].

What is MrBeast's age?

MrBeast is 28 years old (born May 7, 1998) [citation:2].

What is the real name of MrBeast?

His real name is James Stephen "Jimmy" Donaldson [citation:2].

Who is MrBeast?

MrBeast is an American YouTuber, entrepreneur, and philanthropist known for his viral money stunts, charitable work, and large-scale video productions.

Conclusion

MrBeast's journey from a 13-year-old with a YouTube account to a billion-dollar mogul is one of the most remarkable success stories in the digital age. He revolutionized content creation by combining high-stakes entertainment with genuine philanthropy and sharp business acumen. While controversies have occurred, his impact on the creator economy is undeniable. He continues to push the boundaries of what is possible on YouTube and beyond, cementing his legacy as a pioneer in the entertainment industry.