MrBeast is known for his over-the-top viral videos and over-the-top charitable acts.
The YouTube star, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has given away millions of dollars in his videos to causes such as the Arbor Day Foundation and The Ocean Cleanup.
The 26-year-old started on YouTube by posting videos under the username MrBeast6000 from Donaldson’s hometown of Greenville, North Carolina, where he still lives.
In 2017, he went viral with a video in which he counted from zero to 100,000, beginning a journey that led him to become YouTube’s top creator.
He has over 395 million subscribers on YouTube. While MrBeast’s net worth is unknown, he said in February 2025 that he’s a billionaire on paper.
His charitable stunts and giveaways have helped him go viral. In 2021, he challenged participants to remain in a circle and gave the last person to leave $500,000. The video gained over 500 million views.
MrBeast also runs a charity organization called Beast Philanthropy, which works on campaigns to donate money and resources. It also runs a food bank, called The Beast Pantry, in North Carolina. The Beast Philanthropy YouTube channel has over 27 million subscribers.
Donaldson began incorporating philanthropy into his content back in 2017, after inking his first brand sponsorship deal on YouTube.
He was paid $10,000 for the brand deal, and in the video, he gave the money away as tips to pizza delivery drivers.
The giveaway changed the trajectory of Donaldson’s content strategy. From then on, he created content about giving money away to people in his community, Twitch streamers, and even food delivery drivers.
At first, Donaldson’s giveaways helped him go viral online, which in turn allowed him to donate more money to various people and charities. But over time, his charity efforts became controversial.
YouTube/MrBeast
MrBeast’s philanthropic efforts: from giveaways to charity stunts
MrBeast has given away gobs of cash to a wide range of causes, including planting trees, cleaning the ocean, and even paying for someone’s cataract surgery.
In 2019, Donaldson hit national news for his online campaign to raise money to plant 20 million trees. He partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation on the movement called #TeamTrees, which even attracted funding from Elon Musk.
MrBeast typically funds these charity stunts through his businesses, sponsorship deals, and advertising earnings from his YouTube channel.
He’s built a team to run his philanthropic efforts. It includes Darren Margolias, who worked in real estate development, and has become the face of Beast Philanthropy.
Donaldson’s charity efforts have also had a cultural impact, making charity both “cool” and entertaining.
Steven Kahn
Backlash to MrBeast’s philanthropy
MrBeast’s charity stunts have also drawn critics who say his philanthropic efforts are self-serving.
For instance, in 2023, he received backlash on Twitter for his video in which he gifted eye surgeries.
Donaldson responded on the social platform, now called X, pointing out the irony: “Twitter – Rich people should help others with their money. Me – Okay, I’ll use my money to help people and I promise to give away all my money before I die. Every single penny. Twitter – MrBeast bad.”
This was far from the only time Donaldson has been accused of being performative in his charitable acts. Some on the internet have even called his videos staged.
His grand gestures have been accused of failing to contribute to fixing systemic issues like poverty and instead being performed for entertainment. For example, after his 2024 video titled “I Built 100 Houses And Gave Them Away,” some fans online criticized the YouTuber for using the subjects of the video to get views.
He also sparked controversy in 2023 when Donaldson gifted a car to a waitress in a TikTok video. Some fans said online that they were disappointed that the car displayed his YouTube logo and the name of his chocolate brand, Feastables, accusing him of using the giveaway for promotion.
In times of backlash, MrBeast has typically shrugged off any criticism and doubled down that he’s not giving up on giving back.
Representatives for Jimmy Donaldson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this story.
