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MrBeast has racked up over 3.3 BILLION views in 2020 alone.
His headline-grabbing challenges where he gives away millions are constantly trending.
With 46M+ subs, let’s breakdown how @MrBeastYT got his start & why he's determined to die with $0 in his bank account.
A thread.
His headline-grabbing challenges where he gives away millions are constantly trending.
With 46M+ subs, let’s breakdown how @MrBeastYT got his start & why he's determined to die with $0 in his bank account.
A thread.
MrBeast aka Jimmy Donaldson posted his first video when he was 13.
For the first few years, his content didn't get much traction. Some things he tried: Call of Duty compilations, talking about other YouTubers’ wealth, reviewing gear.
He was a creator looking for direction.
For the first few years, his content didn't get much traction. Some things he tried: Call of Duty compilations, talking about other YouTubers’ wealth, reviewing gear.
He was a creator looking for direction.
He started gaining traction in 2015 thanks to his “worst intros” series, where he made fun of YTers' intros.
By mid-2016, he had hit 30K subs. Later that year, he enrolled in college only to drop out just 2 weeks later.
"I'd rather be poor than do anything besides YouTube."
By mid-2016, he had hit 30K subs. Later that year, he enrolled in college only to drop out just 2 weeks later.
"I'd rather be poor than do anything besides YouTube."
Then came January 2017. MrBeast uploads a video of himself counting to 100,000 (which took him 40 hours).
He went viral.
More important: after years and years, he had cracked the YouTube code.
He went viral.
More important: after years and years, he had cracked the YouTube code.
He started doing similar, seemingly pointless stunts: spinning a fidget spinner for 24 hours or watching Jake Paul's "It's Everyday Bro" music video for 10 hours straight.
They worked.
By November 2017, he had reached YouTube's holy grail: 1 million subscribers.
They worked.
By November 2017, he had reached YouTube's holy grail: 1 million subscribers.
MrBeast began to develop 3 kinds of trademark videos that served as his bread & butter:
- "Junklord Youtube” <> exhausting, hours-long stunts
- "Last to person to leave gets X" <> X being a house / Lamborghini / $$$
- Charity <> Giving away free cars or $$$ to random streamers
- "Junklord Youtube” <> exhausting, hours-long stunts
- "Last to person to leave gets X" <> X being a house / Lamborghini / $$$
- Charity <> Giving away free cars or $$$ to random streamers
By December 2018, he had given $1M through various videos.
In late 2019, he successfully launched a fundraising campaign called #TeamTrees to plant 20M trees by the end of the year.
All of these stunts have earned him the title of "YouTube's Biggest Philanthropist."
In late 2019, he successfully launched a fundraising campaign called #TeamTrees to plant 20M trees by the end of the year.
All of these stunts have earned him the title of "YouTube's Biggest Philanthropist."
Another key ingredient to MrBeast's rising success is his steady cast of characters - like @chrisTyson, @ChandlerHallow, @theoffgarrett, @KarlJacobs_ - who have become giant creators in their own right.
2020 has truly transformed MrBeast into the King of YouTube.
- He is now up 46M subscribers and counting.
- He hosted the most-viewed livestream in YouTube's history with 1M concurrent viewers
- He has donated more money than ever
- He is now up 46M subscribers and counting.
- He hosted the most-viewed livestream in YouTube's history with 1M concurrent viewers
- He has donated more money than ever
Many ask where he gets all that $ to give away?
- Ad revenue
- Brand deals
- Merch (he recently promised to sign limited ed. merch & filmed himself signing all 68,337 shirts)
MrBeast will do whatever it takes to push the envelope & fund his endgame.
- Ad revenue
- Brand deals
- Merch (he recently promised to sign limited ed. merch & filmed himself signing all 68,337 shirts)
MrBeast will do whatever it takes to push the envelope & fund his endgame.
But...what is his endgame? "I want to build other channels like beast gaming and beast reacts so I can run my main channel at a loss and grow as big as possible. And then.. one day open hundreds of homeless shelters/food banks and give away all the money." https://twitter.com/MrBeastYT/status/1292819520126701568
Hopefully, you found MrBeast's story inspiring.
If you enjoyed this thread, please like and RT the first tweet so it reaches more people.
And don't forget to follow me for more threads about content creators and how their businesses work behind-the-scenes!
If you enjoyed this thread, please like and RT the first tweet so it reaches more people.
And don't forget to follow me for more threads about content creators and how their businesses work behind-the-scenes!
Big thanks to @paigeleskin and @MargotSHarris for their great piece on MrBeast's genesis: https://www.businessinsider.com/mrbeast-youtube-jimmy-donaldson-net-worth-life-career-challenges-teamtrees-2019-11
