The MrBeast Empire
"How Jimmy Donaldson turned viral stunts and giveaways into one of the most sophisticated media businesses on the internet"
What Happened?
Jimmy Donaldson started making YouTube videos at 13 in Greenville, North Carolina. By 2023, MrBeast was the most-subscribed individual creator on YouTube with over 200 million subscribers. The real story, though, is the business. MrBeast Burger launched in 2020 as a virtual restaurant chain. Feastables chocolate bars hit Walmart shelves in 2022. An Amazon Prime reality show followed. Donaldson's model — spending millions per video to generate views that fund brand deals and product sales — created a flywheel that generates hundreds of millions annually. He is reportedly the highest-paid creator in YouTube history.
Why People Are Talking About This
How Jimmy Donaldson turned viral stunts and giveaways into one of the most sophisticated media businesses on the internet
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