How MrBeast Got All Of His Money (And Where He Donated It)

Summary

MrBeast’s fortune came from his YouTube success, earning high pay-per-1000-views rates and sponsorship deals.
He made over $50 million from his YouTube videos alone in 2022 and has a net worth that continues to rise.
MrBeast is known for his philanthropy, with massive charity projects and donations, although there are debates about the ethics of his giving.

How MrBeast got rich is a question frequently leveled at the extravagantly generous YouTube personality, but as he donates so much to charitable causes, it has become a recurring query. While he started as a gaming streamer, Jimmy Donaldson, a.k.a MrBeast, is an internet sensation whose YouTube channel has racked up over 6 billion views since he began in 2012 at 13 years old. Over two decades later, MrBeast has over 217 million subscribers on his main account, while MrBeast Gaming has over 30 million. Donaldson’s fanbase is a critical factor in making him one of the wealthiest YouTubers ever.

The giveaway-happy MrBeast first rose to worldwide prominence in 2018 after a video of the YouTube star donating $10,000 to an unhoused man went viral. MrBeast has become synonymous with aggressive philanthropy; his generous giveaways and feel-good challenges have seen him hand out millions. Donaldson’s viral stunts in 2021 were a recreation of the Netflix drama sensation Squid Game, in which 456 people compete in a series of Korean childhood games for a grand prize of $456,000. In 2023, MrBeast gave away $2 million worth of clothing. So, how rich is MrBeast, and how did MrBeast make his money?

How MrBeast Got His Money

MrBeast Made His Entire Fortune On YouTube

MrBeast’s popularity is a massive factor and a key reason for his financial success, with MrBeast earning a high pay-per-1000-views rate from his 342 million on-platform subscribers (across five self-run channels). Fall Guys favorite MrBeast also receives huge sums from high-profile sponsors looking to advertise on his videos, which, coupled with his own wildly successful merch store, ensures Donaldson is a man of elite wealth.

The YouTuber’s unique brand of online philanthropy instantly attracted a host of wealthy sponsors, including Quidd, CSGO Lotto, Honey, TikTok , and many others.

The money made by MrBeast’s early videos enabled him to drop out of college to make YouTube his full-time career and generate enough income to start handing out money. After MrBeast garnered worldwide attention for his charity in 2018, his worth skyrocketed exponentially over the next two years. The YouTuber’s unique brand of online philanthropy instantly attracted a host of wealthy sponsors, including Quidd, CSGO Lotto, Honey, TikTok, and many others. These prominent brands donate considerable sums to Donaldson, which helps fund his increasingly grandiose giveaways, production costs, and growing self-branded merchandise.

How Much Money MrBeast Makes In A Year From YouTube

MrBeast Made Over $50 Million On His Videos Alone In 2022

Funding and MrBeast’s YouTube revenue stream are only the start. YouTube employs a payment system where an agreed sum is paid per thousand views, increasing the payment alongside the streamer’s popularity. For context, MrBeast’s Squid Game recreation video amassed 4,584,856 views in less than two hours after its initial YouTube upload, and it now sits at over 541 million views. Several outlets previously reported that Donaldson could earn as much as $40,000 per day from his YouTube content alone, which adds up to over $15 million a year from YouTube payouts.

MrBeast’s Squid Game recreation video amassed 4,584,856 views in less than two hours after its initial YouTube upload, and it now sits at over 541 million views.

It was revealed (via Forbes) that in 2021, MrBeast made $54 million off his various YouTube channels alone. This amount is more than double the YouTube income of the most wealthy YouTuber of 2020 (Ryan Kaji at $29.5 million). MrBeast’s Squid Game video brought him more attention, capitalizing on the worldwide success of the Korean drama to rake in a staggering number of views. While it’s impossible to predict what MrBeast might do next, he will continue making millions off YouTube.

How Rich Is MrBeast?

MrBeast’s Net Worth Isn’t Publicly Known

Much like the origin of his wealth, the answer to how rich MrBeast is remains far from straightforward. MrBeast’s net worth is on an upward trajectory that shows no signs of slowing. In November 2021, it was estimated that MrBeast was worth as much as $25 million. He took home approximately $3 million per month from his combination of YouTube royalties, sponsorship payments, and merchandise profits. This skyrocketing personal value ensures MrBeast’s giveaways and donations will continue to escalate accordingly as his avid YouTube audiences eagerly await Donaldson’s next philanthropic stunt.

MrBeast’s Biggest Charity Projects

Much Of MrBeast’s Fortune Goes Into Philanthropy

To date, MrBeast’s most significant charity effort is called TeamSeas, an ocean cleanup initiative for which MrBeast teamed up with fellow YouTuber Mark Rober to raise $30 million to remove 30 million pounds of trash from the seas. Before the success of TeamSeas, MrBeast donated one million meals to families in need during a November 2021 food drive, spending $500,000 and, in the process, achieving a huge donation milestone to date, surpassing the time he gave away $456,000 in his Squid Game video. However, his latest charity venture puts those numbers to shame.

MrBeast gave away almost $3 million worth of clothing to emergency housing shelters and low-income areas, handing out Nike, Adidas, and many other popular clothing brands.

In April 2023, MrBeast gave away almost $3 million worth of clothing to emergency housing shelters and low-income areas, handing out Nike, Adidas, and many other popular clothing brands (via MrBeast Burger). In February 2023, it was revealed that MrBeast paid for 1,000 blind people to have their sight restored, too (via NME). Combined with MrBeast’s YouTube earnings, the fast growth of his gaming-dedicated channel, and his growing influence over multi-million dollar brands that want to support his charity work mean that audiences could soon see a much larger number overtaking MrBeast’s most significant donations in the past.

MrBeast Is The Second YouTuber Ever To Reach 100 Million Subs

His High Subscriber Count Has Helped Him Amass His Fortune

Considering MrBeast has over 342 million subscribers, YouTube ad revenue is an easy answer to how MrBeast made his money. MrBeast hit the 100-million-subscriber milestone in July 2022 and livestreamed his reaction, thanking his many fans and supporters. MrBeast also said that he certainly hasn’t run out of ideas for YouTube videos, planning to keep his channel going for 20 to 30 years. In the live stream, the YouTuber said:

“I appreciate every single one of you that watches the videos. This is literally all I’ve ever done with my life. All I do is wake up every day and obsess over how to make the best videos possible.”

Are MrBeast’s Charity Donations Ethical?

The Debate Around MrBeast’s Philanthropy Explained

MrBeast’s philanthropic endeavors have been called “poverty porn” and “random charity of a moneyed internet star” (via ABC). The issue with MrBeast is that his philanthropy is his business model, and giving away money is how he makes even more money. MrBeast might have donated $2.7 million worth of clothes to emergency housing shelters, but he would have made way more than that for a YouTube video that documented the spectacle. Ultimately, MrBeast does receive an income and attention for his charitable acts, so they cannot be described as completely selfless.

One of MrBeast’s biggest giveaways was when he celebrated 100 million subscribers by giving away a two-million-dollar private island.

However, the internet went overboard when MrBeast paid for 1000 people’s surgery to regain sight. Twitter users claimed that MrBeast had a god complex (via Forbes). Though MrBeast’s YouTube video of the three-week event might been dismissed by his critics as cashing-in on the misfortune of others, he gave 1000 blind people their sight back, and they’d likely have remained visually impaired for their entire lives had he not. While the purity of his intentions may be debated, the fact that the outcome is positive for those he helps cannot.

What MrBeast Is Up To In 2024

The YouTuber Renovated A Hospital In Nepal

In 2024, MrBeast has continued to leverage his massive online presence to enact positive change worldwide, demonstrating a profound commitment to humanitarian efforts. The YouTuber released a video on his Beast Philanthropy channel showcasing a significant project: the renovation of a hospital in a remote Nepalese village. This village previously struggled with inadequate medical facilities, often forcing doctors to perform surgery under minimal conditions, such as using flashlights for lighting.

The renovation included the installation of solar panels, donated by MrBeast and his partners, to provide consistent electricity. Furthermore, GivePower contributed essential medical equipment, and local engineer developed “Nyano Nani” newborn warmers, crucial for infant survival in the area. This project has substantially improved the quality of life and healthcare accessibility for the local community.

MrBeast also embarked on a mission to change the lives of 600 people by improving their access to transport. In a video titled “Changing the Lives of 600 Strangers,” he highlighted the severe lack of transportation means available to millions worldwide. With a generous donation of $600,000 in electric E-bikes from Lectric, MrBeast was able to distribute these vehicles to individuals in need across various locations, including his hometown of Greenville.

The initiative extended to organizations such as the Interfaith Refugee Ministry and Community Crossroads Center, enhancing the mobility and daily lives of many underprivileged individuals. These initiatives in 2024 are a testament to MrBeast’s ongoing dedication to not just entertaining his audience but significantly impacting people’s lives through direct action and generosity. His work continues to inspire his audience and other content creators to think creatively about how they can contribute to global betterment.