Jimmy Donaldson, universally recognized as MrBeast, began his YouTube journey in 2012 at the young age of 13. Initially known as MrBeast6000, his early content centered around “Let’s Play” videos and estimations of other YouTubers’ wealth. Today, the tables have turned, with countless videos dedicated to uncovering MrBeast’s own net worth. The turning point arrived in 2017 with his video “Counting to 100,000,” a nearly 24-hour endeavor that amassed millions of views, currently sitting at 25 million. This marked the beginning of Jimmy Donaldson’s rise as YouTube’s philanthropic stuntman.
But how did MrBeast transition from uploading videos like “How Many YouTubers are Millionaries” (yes, with that spelling) to earning approximately $3 million per month? Let’s dive into the details of his impressive revenue streams.
How Does MrBeast Generate His Massive Income?
According to MrBeast, “YouTube just pays better than you think.” A significant portion of his income stems from YouTube’s AdSense program. Creator earnings depend on their CPM (cost per thousand impressions). So, how much does MrBeast make per video? With an estimated CPM of around $20, MrBeast can earn over $2 million per video from YouTube ad revenue alone. This comes from ads placed at the beginning and during his videos.
However, AdSense is just the tip of the iceberg. Sponsorships, merchandise, and other business ventures contribute significantly to MrBeast’s overall wealth.
The Power of Sponsorships: MrBeast’s Brand Collaborations
Sponsorships dramatically amplify MrBeast’s revenue. One notable example is his collaboration with Brawl Stars in 2021, where he recreated Squid Game in real life. This video generated a staggering 125 million views within five days, leading to a 41% increase in Brawl Stars downloads worldwide (1.4 million downloads). While the exact financial details of the partnership remain undisclosed, Brawl Stars reportedly covered the $3.5 million production cost, with $2 million allocated for construction and production and $1.5 million for prizes.
Another long-term partner is Honey, a browser extension that automatically finds and applies coupon codes. Honey has sponsored MrBeast’s channel over 20 times, resulting in 1,250,188,750 views on sponsored videos. Assuming a CPV (cost-per-view) of 1 cent, MrBeast likely earned approximately $12.5 million from this collaboration alone. These long-term partnerships indicate mutually beneficial relationships where both parties see a significant return on investment.
MrBeast’s Multiple Channels: Expanding His Reach and Revenue
Beyond his main channel, MrBeast operates 12 additional channels, including seven international channels as part of his localization strategy. Localization involves tailoring content to specific markets, and MrBeast excels at this by creating separate channels for different languages and hiring native speakers for voice-overs. His success in multi-language audio even inspired YouTube to introduce multi-language audio features.
Each of these channels generates revenue through AdSense and sponsorships, significantly increasing MrBeast’s overall earnings.
MrBeast and YouTube Shorts: A Different Revenue Model
Mr.Beast’s manager, Reed Duchscher, recently shared insights into YouTube Shorts earnings. According to Duchscher, a channel with over 400 million views per month on Shorts has an RPM of $0.02. This translates to approximately $2,400 per month for a channel with 116 million views. Considering MrBeast’s average of 227 million views on Shorts, he earns roughly $4,500 per month from this platform.
Sponsoring MrBeast: What’s the Cost?
MrBeast’s videos average over 14 million views, making his channel a highly desirable platform for brands. To understand the potential cost of sponsoring MrBeast, let’s consider several factors:
- Projected Views: Estimating the number of views a sponsored video will receive within its first 90 days is crucial. MrBeast’s projected views are currently around 65.9 million.
- Placement of the Ad: The placement of the ad (pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll) affects the price. Mid-roll ads are typically more expensive.
- Category: The type of content influences the audience profile and brand suitability.
Given MrBeast’s substantial follower count and views, he is one of the most expensive influencers to sponsor on YouTube. With an estimated CPV of $0.021, a sponsorship on MrBeast’s channel could range from $308,306 to $431,628 per video. This translates to over $2.4 million annually from brand sponsorships alone.
Beyond YouTube: MrBeast’s Other Revenue Streams
MrBeast’s income extends beyond his YouTube channels. He also generates revenue from merchandise sales and his fast-food chain, MrBeast Burger. The profits from his secondary channels and merchandise contribute to his philanthropic fund, which he uses to support charitable causes on his main channel.
MrBeast Burger, a delivery-only restaurant, quickly gained popularity. In its first three months, it sold over 1 million burgers. Even with a profit of 50 cents per burger, this translates to $500,000 in revenue.
Furthermore, MrBeast established Beast Philanthropy, a channel dedicated to charity and donations. Since January 2022, 100% of the profits from advertising revenue, merchandise sales, and sponsorships are donated to charity.
While MrBeast’s success is exceptional, it highlights the potential of YouTube and the power of strategic content creation and diverse revenue streams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MrBeast the richest YouTuber?
Yes, MrBeast is currently considered the richest YouTuber in the world, with an estimated net worth of over $500 million as of 2024.
How tall is MrBeast?
MrBeast has stated that he is 6’5″ tall, the same height as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Does MrBeast have a girlfriend?
Yes, MrBeast is dating Thea Booysen, a South African author, psychologist, and online streamer, since late 2022.
Where does MrBeast live?
MrBeast lives in Greenville, North Carolina, where he has been purchasing homes for himself, his family, and his employees.
What was MrBeast’s first video?
MrBeast’s first videos in 2012 involved playing video games. He later transitioned to challenge-style videos and videos detailing other creators’ earnings, which led to his viral success.
