From Zero to Hero: How MrBeast Climbed the YouTube Ladder
Jimmy ‘MrBeast’ Donaldson isn’t just any YouTuber. With a staggering 200 million subscribers to his name, the North Carolina sensation has certainly etched himself into the annals of digital stardom.
MrBeast’s initial foray into YouTube wasn’t necessarily an overnight success. “Though some of his earlier videos got thousands of views, MrBeast’s rise to fame came in 2017, as his 23-hour video of him counting to 100,000 gained 29 million views,” he recalls. It wasn’t just about virality; it was about persistence and evolving his content, leading to a crescendo of critical and commercial success.
“Though MrBeast is known for his philanthropy and viewer challenges, the North Carolina-based content creator is also known for his dedication to his craft.”
What Critics Say Vs What MrBeast Does
Some critics have occasionally questioned the ethical grounds of MrBeast’s extravagant viral challenges. However, any debate about whether or not they might be “exploitative” hasn’t done much to slow him down. Quite the opposite, in fact.
“Despite some critics pondering if MrBeast’s extravagant viral challenges are exploitative, that has not stopped MrBeast from continuing to use his fame and wealth to support his audience and charities.”
We hit 200,000,000 subscribers!
If you traveled back in time and showed this screenshot to me when I was 13, there is 0 shot he’d believe it’s real haha 🥺❤️This is just the beginning though, I still have decades left in the tank 😈 pic.twitter.com/xnITlyYJ5q
— MrBeast (@MrBeast) October 15, 2023
This relentless drive has earned him numerous accolades. From Streamy Awards to Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, MrBeast has swept them all.
October 14: A Day of Records
MrBeast wasn’t content with just racking up awards and breaking YouTube records. Oh no, October 14, 2022, was a special day even by his lofty standards. “MrBeast posted on social media that his main YouTube channel hit 200 million subscribers,” making him the second most subscribed channel at that point—right behind the behemoth T-Series with their 251 million subscribers.
“MrBeast is the top channel to not be from a brand, and his current subscriber count is nearly double that of Swedish YouTuber Felix ‘PewDiePie’ Kjellberg. In late 2022, MrBeast passed up PewDiePie in subscriber count.”
The Secret Sauce Behind the ‘Most Views in 24 Hours’
However, that wasn’t all. On that same October 14, MrBeast unleashed the “$1 vs $100,000,000 House” video, which not only amassed over 65 million views at the time of writing but also became the top trending video on YouTube. And if you thought that was jaw-dropping, listen to this:
“This video broke the record for most views in a 24-hour span, which was set by none other than MrBeast himself with his ‘7 Days Stranded at Sea’ video that garnered over 47 million views in a single day.”
What’s interesting is it’s with a closed mouth thumbnail (thank gosh open mouth was cringe)
I screamed way less in the video lol
We slowed the video down a lot
Showed more of me and the boys being dumb
cut less than I normally do
And it seems like everyone liked the changes.…
— MrBeast (@MrBeast) October 15, 2023
According to MrBeast, this new video’s staggering success wasn’t mere luck but “the result of some changes that he and his production team made.” Clearly, MrBeast knows a thing or two about seizing the moment.
The Future of the MrBeast Empire
While some creators bask in the glory of success, MrBeast remains rooted in his passion for content creation, continuously innovating and pushing boundaries. As he mulls over the possibility of someday overtaking T-Series, MrBeast himself stated that he “still has plenty of years of content creation.” One thing’s for sure, the world will be watching, eagerly waiting for his next big splash.
“While MrBeast’s reputation for skipping awards shows to work on videos may not fade anytime soon, neither will the success of both his videos or his YouTube channel.”
So, will MrBeast one day rule the YouTube universe? Time will tell, but for now, 200 million subscribers is a great place to start.
