💸 Mr. Beast leads the earnings on YouTube and expands his business empire

25 Sept 2024

For the second consecutive year, Mr. Beast dominates as the highest-paid YouTuber on the planet. In 2021, Donaldson pocketed around 54 million dollars, a figure that could soar to 110 million in 2022, according to forecasts from Forbes.

His total net worth is around 500 million dollars, and he is currently seeking investors for his content studio, which could value his main asset at 1.5 billion. “Paradoxically, you are more likely to become a billionaire when you are not obsessed with it,” comments Donaldson. “You just need to focus on making your company extraordinary.”

Beast's business success is such that he has even been invited as a speaker at Harvard Business School. His empire encompasses:

A conglomerate of channels with massive audiences:

• MrBeast: 142 million subscribers
• Beast Reacts: 22.5 million
• MrBeast Shorts: 21.5 million
• Beast Philanthropy: 12.6 million
• MrBeast Gaming: 32 million
• MrBeast 2: 21.5 million

Production is centralized in Greenville, her hometown, where she is expanding her facilities to three main centers. She dreams of turning the area into a hub for content creators. Her team consists of about 50 employees, including writers, editors, and assistants, many of whom are friends and family.

MrBeast Burger, launched in 2020, generated queues of over 30 kilometers at its opening. With more than 300 locations in the US and international presence, it primarily operates as a virtual restaurant: orders via app prepared in partnered cafes. In just three months, it sold over a million burgers, establishing itself as one of the fastest-growing food brands.

Its Feastables snack line, which includes chocolates and cookies available online and at Walmart, generated over $10 million in its first few months. To promote it, he organized a contest inspired by Willy Wonka with golden tickets and cash prizes, culminating in a competition judged by Gordon Ramsay.

I'm surprised at how this guy has built such an empire from nothing, although I wonder if we really need another billionaire selling hamburgers and chocolate. Wouldn't it be more interesting to see that money invested in solutions for real problems?