MrBeast: Backstory

Yash Surjuse
3 min readDec 28, 2023

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Early Life and YouTube Beginnings

Jimmy Donaldson, the man behind MrBeast, was born on May 7, 1998, in Greenville, North Carolina. He had an early interest in YouTube, creating his first channel at the age of 13 under the username “MrBeast6000.” His early content consisted of gaming videos and estimates of how much money YouTubers like PewDiePie made.

Donaldson’s big break came in 2017 with a video titled “I Gave My Friend $100,000.” The video went viral, racking up millions of views and launching him to YouTube fame. He followed up with more stunts and challenges, including counting to 100,000 (which took 44 hours), living in a hole for 50 hours, and spending 50 hours buried alive.

Philanthropy and Outlandish Stunts

MrBeast’s channel is known for its over-the-top stunts and challenges, often involving large sums of money. He has given away cars, houses, and even islands to his subscribers and random people on the street. He has also donated millions of dollars to charities, including the Arbor Day Foundation and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Some of MrBeast’s most popular videos include:

  • “I Spent 50 Hours Buried Alive” (114 million views)
  • “I Gave Every Homeless Person in My City $1,000” (70 million views)
  • “I Tipped $1 Million to Waiters” (69 million views)
  • “I Bought Everything in a Store” (66 million views)
  • “Last To Leave The Circle Wins $456,000” (58 million views)

MrBeast’s philanthropy is not just a show for the camera. He has a genuine desire to help others, and his videos often inspire viewers to do the same. He has said that his goal is to make the world a better place, one outrageous stunt at a time.

Challenges and Controversies

MrBeast’s success has not come without challenges. He has been criticized for his spending habits, with some accusing him of being wasteful and irresponsible. He has also been accused of exploiting his viewers and putting them in dangerous situations.

However, MrBeast has defended his actions, saying that he is simply trying to entertain people and make a positive impact on the world. He has also said that he is careful to ensure the safety of his participants in his stunts.

Business Ventures and Team Beast

MrBeast has used his YouTube success to launch several other businesses, including a merchandise line and a meal delivery service called Feastables. He has also created a talent management agency called Beast Philanthropy, which helps other YouTubers grow their channels and give back to their communities.

MrBeast is not alone in his endeavors. He has a team of friends and collaborators who help him with his videos and business ventures. This team, known as Team Beast, is an integral part of MrBeast’s success.

The Future of MrBeast

MrBeast is one of the most popular YouTubers in the world, with over 100 million subscribers and billions of views. He is still young and has a long career ahead of him. It will be interesting to see what he does next and how he continues to use his platform to entertain and inspire people.

Impact and Legacy

MrBeast has had a significant impact on YouTube and popular culture. He has helped to popularize the challenge video genre and has inspired countless other YouTubers to create their own outlandish content. He has also shown that it is possible to use YouTube for good, raising millions of dollars for charity and inspiring others to be generous.

MrBeast’s legacy is still being written, but there is no doubt that he is one of the most important and influential figures on YouTube today.

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