When it comes to content creators, the nature of the beast is that one day you’re in, the next you’re out. Cultures change. Humors evolve. There’s often a thin line - and an even thinner timespan - between trending and your career ending.
That’s just the nature of the beast. All except for one. MrBeast.
From simple beginnings to headline-generating, cinematic masterpieces and donating millions of dollars to charitable causes, his unstoppable popularity is proof that entertainment and philanthropy go hand-in-hand.
Having fun can make a fundamental change in people’s lives - and there’s a huge community that want to support change for the better. Charity just doesn’t have to feel like a chore.
MrBeast’s career trajectory: the opposite of a vicious cycle
Starting out with similar content to YouTube peers - Let’s Play videos, videos where he weighed in on fellow creator drama, pranks - there was nothing in MrBeast’s humble beginnings that foreshadowed his future as YouTube’s potential first billionaire.
Building a community on a very simple premise - people like feeling good - MrBeast’s pivot to philanthropic videos helped cement his status as a social media superstar, but it also highlighted the fact that millions of fans out there prefer videos with substance.
MrBeast’s success was in discovering the perfect blend of style and substance. Cinematic experiences like recreating Squid Game, burying himself alive for 50 hours and taking on the world’s most deadly obstacle course made it impossible for people not to tune in.
The more viral MrBeast gets, the more money he makes to fund further giveaways. The bigger his giveaways, the more people tune in. In this respect, MrBeast’s potential really is limitless.
The beauty in MrBeast’s giveaways
Proving that he’s funneling his funds back into bigger, better, and Beastier giveaways, what has he given away, exactly?
Well, the question should rather be, where do we start?
Some of the achievements have included:
– Giving away 100 homes valued at just under $10,000,000
– Giving away 10,000 turkeys to his hometown of Greenville
– Donating 20,000 shoes to children in Africa
– He gave away food worth $1,000,000 during the coronavirus pandemic
– He gave away the world’s most expensive gift box worth $250,000
– He helped build 100 wells in Africa for villages with limited access to clean water
– He has given $300,000 worth of technology to various schools.
We could go on. And on.
Self-serving, or selfless?
MrBeast, as of late 2024, retains the title of YouTube’s most subscribed channel, with over 330 million subscribers. He’s also one of the most successful crossover creators on TikTok, with over 104 million followers.
And this is why some critics have suggested his giveaways aren’t as good-natured as they may appear.
Can a charitable deed ever be ‘true’ if there’s something in it for the giver?
Is he extraordinary, or exploitative?
For his part, he has addressed critics in the past directly. Rather than shying away from the subject matter, he insists that he does not profit from the Beast Philanthropy channel or its videos. All revenue goes towards charity, and he has spoken out on the importance of him not working alone.
His videos need to kickstart change and action from governments, other organizations, and the system as a whole.
And what his lessons have subtly showcased is the importance of a systemic change. His videos capture the mood of a world increasingly divided into the haves and have-nots, a world of stark contrasts. And, despite his best efforts, MrBeast can’t fix that alone.
What he can do is spotlight what happens when someone does help.
His videos might be grand in nature and full of performative showmanship, but isn’t that what the biggest charitable initiatives have always been built on? From TV telethons to celebrity ambassadors, from charity singles like We Are The World to slogan-driven charity tee-shirts and merch, there’s always been a synergy between charity and entertainment.
The key takeaways
What MrBeast represents is the fact that two things can be true: social media can be frivolous, frustrating and fads. But it’s also the platform most likely to produce the next generation of game changers and innovators.
So if you're looking to stand out and make an impact, this is what you should do:
- Connect through compassion - people want to believe in the power of good.
- Transparency matters - address the elephant in the room. If you have critics, challenge them. You can’t be an authority without authenticity - MrBeast has always got in front of any doubters and detractors.
- Be your own ecosystem - The more viral he becomes, the more brands want to work with him, and the bigger the stunts become. From recreating Squid Game to buying an island, he makes it impossible for viewers to look away. The more they come, they more he can give. It's truly a never ending cycle. And it’s the kind of shrewd entrepreneurialism that we might be studying in the hallowed halls of Harvard and similar in years to come.
