MrBeast — born Jimmy Donaldson — is the most influential creator in YouTube history and the platform's first billionaire. With over 400 million subscribers across his channels, his elaborate stunts, massive cash giveaways, and high-production videos have fundamentally redefined what is possible on the platform, while his business empire — Beast Games on Amazon Prime, Feastables chocolate, MrBeast Burger — has expanded his reach into mainstream television, consumer products, and philanthropy at unprecedented scale.
Early Life
Jimmy Donaldson was born on May 7, 1998, in Greenville, North Carolina. His mother, Sue Donaldson, served in the military and later worked in human resources, and his father, Stephen Donaldson, was a businessman. He has an older brother, CJ Donaldson, who is also a YouTuber. He was diagnosed with Crohn's disease as a teenager, an inflammatory bowel condition he has spoken about publicly. He became obsessed with YouTube from a young age, studying how creators grew their channels and analyzing what made videos go viral. He attended Greenville Christian Academy and briefly attended East Carolina University before dropping out to pursue YouTube full-time.
Career
Donaldson posted his first YouTube video in February 2012 at age 13, initially focusing on Let's Plays and commentary on YouTube wealth and creator statistics. His breakthrough came in 2017 with a video titled Counting to 100,000, in which he counted to 100,000 over 40 hours — a stunt that went viral and established his signature style of extreme dedication and ambitious concepts. By 2018 he was giving away increasingly large sums of money, including tips of $10,000 to delivery drivers and Twitch streamers. His subscriber count grew exponentially, surpassing 100 million in 2022 and 200 million in 2023. By 2026 he had over 400 million subscribers across his channels, making him the most-subscribed individual creator in YouTube history. He launched MrBeast Burger in 2020, a virtual restaurant brand that generated over $100 million in its first year. He founded Feastables, his own chocolate brand, in 2022. His Amazon Prime Video reality competition Beast Games premiered in 2025, featuring 1,000 contestants competing for a $5 million prize — the largest single prize in television history. Season 2 of Beast Games premiered on January 7, 2026, with a $5 million prize and 200 contestants. He founded the philanthropic channel Beast Philanthropy, which has given away tens of millions of dollars in food, homes, and cash to people in need worldwide. Forbes named him the highest-paid creator in 2024 and 2026, with estimated earnings of nearly $300 million.
Net Worth
As of 2026, MrBeast's estimated net worth is approximately $2.6 billion, according to Fortune and Celebrity Net Worth, making him the first YouTube creator to become a billionaire. He reached billionaire status in June 2024 at age 26. His wealth is driven primarily by the valuation of his YouTube channels and intellectual property, his Feastables chocolate business, his Beast Games Amazon Prime Video deal, MrBeast Burger licensing, merchandise, and his production company Beast Studios.
Personal Life
Jimmy Donaldson has been in a relationship with Thea Booysen, a South African author and neuroscience student, since 2022. The couple met while Donaldson was traveling in South Africa and have maintained a relatively private relationship despite his enormous public profile. He is based in Greenville, North Carolina, where his production company Beast Studios operates from a massive studio complex. He has been open about his diagnosis with Crohn's disease and his commitment to philanthropy as a core part of his public mission.
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Jimmy Donaldson
- Date of Birth: May 7, 1998
- Birthplace: Greenville, North Carolina, USA
- Nationality: American
- Height: 6 ft 3 in
- Net Worth: $2.6 Billion (2026)
- Girlfriend: Thea Booysen (since 2022)
- YouTube Subscribers: 400+ million across channels (most-subscribed individual)
- Best Known For: Most-subscribed YouTuber, Beast Games on Amazon Prime, Feastables, MrBeast Burger, $5 million reality TV prize
