This is how MrBeast built a 1.5 billion dollar empire without obsessing over money.

There is an interesting detail in the story of Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast): while other content creators obsessively seek to “maximize earnings”, he does exactly the opposite. “It's more likely to become a billionaire if you don't focus on that goal,” he says. “You just have to make your company great.”

Well, it worked.

The content factory

MrBeast is not an influencer with a single channel. He is a machine with six main channels that generate a combined 262 million subscribers:

• MrBeast: 142M
• MrBeast Gaming: 32M
• Beast Reacts: 22.5M
• MrBeast Shorts: 21.5M
• MrBeast 2: 21.5M
• MrBeast Philanthropy: 12.6M

Everything produced in Greenville (his hometown), where he has a studio that is expanding to three main hubs. He employs 50 people—screenwriters, editors, assistants—many of whom are friends and family who have known his vision from the beginning.

By 2022, its revenue could reach 110 million dollars annually (almost 3x compared to 2021).

Outside of YouTube: the private label strategy

MrBeast Burger: Launched in December 2020 with a clever trick: virtual restaurant. It doesn't open 300 real locations—uses agreements with existing cafes that prepare orders under its brand. On launch day, the line of cars measures 30 km. Three months later: 1 million burgers sold.

Feastables (snacks): Chocolate bars and cookies at Walmart and online sale. The launch included cash giveaways and a search for “golden tickets” hidden in chocolates (judge: Gordon Ramsay). Result: over 10 million in sales in the first months.

The true empire

Numbers speak louder: Forbes estimates their total wealth at 500 million. In 2022, they were looking for investors for their content studio with a valuation of 1.5 billion. They were a speaker at Harvard Business School.

The lesson that few grasp: MrBeast won because he did NOT optimize for immediate money. He optimized to create viral content → built a loyal audience → sold products to that audience → scaled with capital and employees. Money was a consequence, not a goal.

That's why Harvard wanted him teaching.