“People would tell me, ‘All you do is talk about YouTube videos.
You’re too obsessed with YouTube. Get a life.’”
After he quit school, his mother was so disappointed that she kicked him out of the house, he says. But his decision paid off.
Video SEO: Dubbing Into YouTube Top Spot 2024 Overtaking PewdiePie
Seven years later, Donaldson, better known online as MrBeast, has 167 million YouTube subscribers – more than any other individual creator on the platform.
He has 85 million followers on TikTok and 39 million more on Instagram. Recently, he became the first person to reach 1 million followers on Meta’s Threads app, hitting the milestone before CEO Mark Zuckerberg. To celebrate, he gave away a Tesla to a random fan.
At 25, Jimmy Donaldson oversees a fast-growing empire that may be worth more than $1 billion. He’s built it by staging increasingly expensive and eye-popping stunts, along with generous cash giveaways and acts of philanthropy – such as bankrolling cataract surgeries for 1,000 blind people to help them see again.
Action-Packed Videos and Compulsive-to-Click YouTube Thumbnails
once you see the eyeball-grabbing YouTube thumbnails, Most of MrBeast’s action-packed videos start with Donaldson breathlessly explaining the setup in the opening seconds before launching a fast-paced series of stunts, gags, challenges, and throwaway jokes. He’s surrounded by a cast of friends dressed in casual attire, while Donaldson’s scraggly beard and constant excitability set him apart.
Sara Fischer, a media reporter for Axios, says Donaldson’s authenticity and accessibility are key to his appeal. “It’s not him wearing a suit; it’s him wearing his everyday clothes, hanging out with his friends,” she explains. His videos provide viewers access to experiences they wouldn’t ordinarily have, like staying in a million-dollar hotel room or flying first-class on the world’s most expensive ticket.
A Global Philanthropy and Ethical Consumerism Case Study
Donaldson’s philanthropy is another defining feature of his content. Videos like “1,000 Blind People See for the First Time” (195 million views: December 30th 2024) and funding prosthetic limbs for 2,000 amputees demonstrate his commitment to using his platform for good. Critics, however, argue that his efforts can feel exploitative, as they rely on showcasing vulnerable people to generate views.
Vince Miller, a UK scholar, counters that Donaldson’s model has been exclusively honed to perform with good intentions: He wants to rank in YouTube and grow his channel to use YouTube’s revenue-sharing system for charitable purposes. By watching his videos, audiences contribute to funding these acts of kindness, creating a form of ethical consumerism.
From Laptop to Luxury – Building a Thriving Business Empire
Donaldson’s journey began with a hand-me-down laptop and a handful of followers. Today, he oversees five YouTube channels with more than a quarter of a billion followers. His ventures include Feastables, a snack brand, and MrBeast Burger, a virtual restaurant chain. In addition, he operates a $10 million studio complex and continues to expand his brand globally.
Despite his fame, Donaldson remains passionate about content creation. Recently, he collaborated with East Carolina University to launch a content creators’ education programme and even taught a class at Harvard Business School.
SEO Lady – Video SEO Pioneer Learning From Mr Beast
When I first saw the Video SEO case study broadcast in a tweet, I swallowed every tactic and swooned. This is the kind of team I’d love to join and throw myself into feet first.
