MrBeast is the most-subscribed creator in YouTube history. In June 2026 he became the first creator to reach 500 million subscribers, a milestone widely reported around the world. Behind the stunts and giant giveaways is a business empire that includes snacks, a streaming competition show and a philanthropy channel. This profile covers his real name, career, businesses, controversies and latest news, with sources for each key fact.
Interest in him tends to peak whenever a big video drops or a new milestone is reported. Many readers want quick answers: his real name, his age, how many subscribers he has and what businesses he owns. We start with a summary table, then go deeper into each part of his story.
MrBeast Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Real name | James Stephen “Jimmy” Donaldson |
| Date of birth | 7 May 1998 |
| Age | 28 (as of October 2026) |
| Birthplace | Wichita, Kansas, United States |
| First YouTube upload | February 2012 |
| Record | First creator to 500 million YouTube subscribers (June 2026) |
| Businesses | Feastables, Beast Philanthropy, Beast Games, Lunchly (co-founder) |
| Holding company | Beast Industries |
Who Is MrBeast?
MrBeast is the online name of Jimmy Donaldson, born on 7 May 1998 in Wichita, Kansas. He uploaded his first YouTube video in February 2012 at the age of 13. For years his channel grew slowly as he experimented with gaming videos, commentary and challenges.
His breakthrough came with expensive, attention-grabbing stunts: counting to huge numbers, giving away large sums of money and building elaborate challenges. That formula, combined with an obsessive focus on thumbnails, titles and viewer retention, turned him into the platform’s biggest star.
How his videos are built
Profiles of him, including a 2022 Rolling Stone feature, have described an intense focus on what keeps viewers watching. Today his videos often feature large crews, high budgets and international locations, more like television shows than typical YouTube uploads.
MrBeast YouTube Records and Milestones
His main channel has broken record after record. He reached 100 million subscribers in July 2022 and became the most-subscribed channel on YouTube in June 2024, overtaking the Indian music label T-Series. He was the first YouTuber to 300 million subscribers in July 2024 and passed 400 million in June 2025.
In June 2026, outlets including The Philippine Star reported that he had become the first YouTuber to reach 500 million subscribers. Subscriber numbers change daily, so check his channel for the current total.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| February 2012 | First upload |
| July 2022 | 100 million subscribers |
| June 2024 | Most-subscribed channel on YouTube |
| July 2024 | First YouTuber to 300 million |
| June 2025 | 400 million subscribers |
| June 2026 | First YouTuber to 500 million |
What his growth means for creators
His scale is extraordinary, but some lessons apply to any creator: obsess over the first few seconds of a video, test thumbnails and titles, and keep viewers curious until the end. Our explainer on why videos go viral breaks these patterns down.
MrBeast Businesses and Philanthropy
Feastables
Launched in January 2022, Feastables is his snack brand, best known for chocolate bars sold in major retailers. It has become one of the most important parts of his business, using his channel as a built-in marketing engine.
Beast Games on Prime Video
Beast Games, a large-scale reality competition with a multimillion-dollar prize, premiered on Prime Video in December 2024. It brought his style of entertainment to a streaming audience and marked a major step into traditional television.
How Beast Games works
The show takes the large-scale challenge format of his YouTube videos and stretches it across a full streaming season. Contestants compete through a series of physical, mental and strategic games, with players eliminated until one winner takes the grand prize, reported as $5 million in the first season. For Amazon, the series was a bet that a YouTube audience would follow a creator to a traditional streaming platform.
The production also became a source of controversy, as explained in the section below.
Lunchly
In September 2024 he co-founded the snack-kit brand Lunchly with fellow creators KSI and Logan Paul.
Beast Philanthropy and fundraisers
His Beast Philanthropy channel, launched in 2020, donates its revenue to charitable work. He has also led large online fundraisers: Team Trees in 2019 for tree planting, Team Seas in 2021 for ocean clean-up and Team Water in 2025 for clean water access. These campaigns raised tens of millions of dollars from viewers and partners.
Viewstats and other channels
His official YouTube channel description mentions Viewstats, a software company focused on YouTube analytics, alongside Feastables. He also runs additional channels, including MrBeast Gaming, which his main channel promotes with new uploads on Saturdays. Spreading content across channels lets him reach different audiences, from gamers to families.
Fundraisers at a glance
| Campaign | Year | Cause |
|---|---|---|
| Team Trees | 2019 | Tree planting with the Arbor Day Foundation |
| Team Seas | 2021 | Ocean and river clean-up |
| Team Water | 2025 | Clean water access with WaterAid |
Each campaign invited viewers to donate small amounts, turning his audience into a fundraising force. Critics and supporters still debate the balance between charity and content, but the campaigns brought significant attention to their causes.
Recognition
TIME named him one of the 100 most influential people in 2023, and Forbes ranked him the highest-paid YouTube creator in 2024. He has won multiple Streamy Awards and Kids’ Choice Awards.
MrBeast Controversies
As his empire has grown, so has scrutiny. Here are key issues reported by named outlets, presented neutrally.
Beast Games contestant lawsuit
In September 2024, Variety reported that five former Beast Games contestants filed a class-action lawsuit against his production company and Amazon, alleging poor conditions during filming and other mistreatment. Readers should check reputable outlets for the outcome of the case.
Large productions involving hundreds of participants raise difficult questions about safety, pay and working conditions, which is why such cases attract wide attention.
Other criticism
Critics have long debated whether giving away money on camera is genuine charity or content strategy, and former employees have publicly described a demanding workplace culture. He has rejected several specific allegations made against him. Like any very large creator, his work attracts both strong support and strong criticism.
MrBeast Official Social Media Links
Because his videos often involve giveaways, scammers frequently create fake MrBeast pages promising prizes. Legitimate giveaways never require fans to pay fees to claim rewards. Our guide on how to check if an account is real explains how to spot fakes.
| Platform | Official account |
|---|---|
| YouTube | youtube.com/@MrBeast |
| instagram.com/mrbeast | |
| TikTok | tiktok.com/@mrbeast |
| X (Twitter) | x.com/MrBeast |
Avoiding MrBeast giveaway scams
- Real giveaways are announced on his official channels, not in random DMs.
- Never pay a “processing” or “delivery” fee to claim a prize.
- Do not share login codes or bank details with anyone claiming to represent him.
- Report fake accounts to the platform.
MrBeast Net Worth: What Is Known
MrBeast does not publish personal financial statements, so there is no officially confirmed net worth. Business publications such as Fortune have published estimates based on the value of his companies, and these estimates have reached the billions. However, they are estimates rather than disclosed figures, and much of his wealth is tied up in private businesses rather than cash.
To see how creators at every level earn money, read our guide on how influencers make money.
MrBeast and creators in South Asia
His influence is global. His large-scale challenge format has been widely imitated by creators around the world, and clips of his challenges circulate widely across South Asian social media. Compare his story with Indian YouTube stars CarryMinati and Bhuvan Bam, or fellow American creator IShowSpeed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MrBeast’s real name?
His real name is James Stephen “Jimmy” Donaldson.
How old is MrBeast?
He was born on 7 May 1998, making him 28 as of October 2026.
How many subscribers does MrBeast have?
He became the first YouTuber to reach 500 million subscribers in June 2026. Check his channel for the live count.
What is Feastables?
Feastables is MrBeast’s snack brand, launched in January 2022 and best known for its chocolate bars.
Is MrBeast giving away money on Instagram?
Be very careful. Many such posts are scams. Only trust giveaways announced on his official channels.
When did MrBeast start YouTube?
He uploaded his first video in February 2012, at the age of 13.
What is Beast Philanthropy?
Beast Philanthropy is his charity-focused YouTube channel, launched in 2020, which donates its revenue to charitable work.
Conclusion
MrBeast turned YouTube stunts into one of the biggest entertainment businesses in the creator economy. His record-breaking audience, ambitious companies and large fundraisers make him impossible to ignore, even as his methods face scrutiny. For more profiles of top creators from the US, India and Pakistan, explore our Biography section.
Sources
- The Philippine Star: MrBeast first YouTuber to hit 500 million subscribers (June 2026)
- Variety: MrBeast, Amazon sued by Beast Games contestants (September 2024)
- GeekWire: Contestants sue MrBeast and Amazon (2024)
- Rolling Stone: Is MrBeast for Real? Inside the Outrageous World of YouTube’s Cash-Happy Stunt King (April 2022)
- TIME: TIME100 Most Influential People (2023)
