MrBeast reigns as Internet’s No.1 creator with $85M empire

Real name Jimmy Donaldson, MrBeast has maintained his top position on the Forbes Top Content Creators list, having secured the number one spot last year, according to Forbes.

Dubbed "YouTube’s ringmaster of stunts and challenges," he has amassed 634 million followers across social platforms, the largest online following in the world.

His influence extends far beyond digital platforms, with his empire now encompassing Feastables, a candy brand, MrBeast Burger, a fast-food chain, and "Beast Games," his hit show. The first season of "Beast Games" boasts over $20 million in prizes and has been renewed for two additional seasons on streaming site Amazon Prime.

MrBeast pictured with the cash prize for his show "Beast Games." Photo from X

Forbes has awarded MrBeast a top-tier entrepreneurship score of 4 out of 4, signaling that he is not only earning from the internet but also building an expansive business empire.

MrBeast's rise began in his teenage years when he started making gaming videos on YouTube. He gained widespread fame in 2017 with a viral video of him counting to 100,000 in nearly 24 hours. He is known for his high-budget, extravagant YouTube projects, such as his recreation of the popular Netflix show "Squid Game," which featured detailed sets and hundreds of participants, as noted by Game Rant.

He recently shared staggering figures for his upcoming YouTube project, which spans more than 400 days of work from set construction to final editing. This includes 171 days of filming, 11,000 hours of footage, and over $4 million spent, lifestyle publication Mens Journal reported. In a post on X, he humorously wrote, "If you guys don’t like my next YouTube video, I’ll cry."

In his personal life, MrBeast is engaged to fellow content creator Thea Booysen and is preparing for their wedding. However, he revealed on X that he is borrowing money from his mother to fund the event, adding, "I personally have very little money because I reinvest everything."