How Mr. Beast Built a Multi-Billion Dollar Empire: From YouTube to Restaurants

From Vlog to Financial Success

How much does MrBeast earn? This question interests many who follow the digital economy. Donaldson, known by his pseudonym MrBeast, has topped the list of the most profitable YouTubers on the planet twice in a row. In 2021, his income from video content was approximately $54 million, and Forbes projected it to grow to $110 million in 2022. Journalists estimated his total net worth at $500 million. Moreover, in 2022, the creator sought investors for a stake in his content studio, which, if successful, could be valued at $1.5 billion.

“Your chances of becoming a billionaire increase if you don’t set that as a goal,” Donaldson philosophically states. “You just need to focus on making your company cool.” This approach even led him to the Harvard Business School, where he shared his experience building a media empire.

Content Studio as the Foundation of the Empire

MrBeast realized that one channel is limiting. His portfolio includes several projects targeting different audiences. The main channel, MrBeast, has gathered 142 million subscribers and remains the flagship. Simultaneously, there are Beast Reacts (22.5 million), MrBeast Shorts (21.5 million), Beast Philanthropy (12.6 million), MrBeast Gaming (32 million), and MrBeast 2 (21.5 million). Such decentralization allows reaching different audience segments and diversifying income sources.

The entire production base is concentrated in Greenville—a small town where the blogger grew up. The studio is constantly expanding, with plans to turn it into three major production centers. Donaldson sees the future here—he hopes to attract other content creators who will move their studios into this digital cluster. Currently, 50 employees work there: scriptwriters, editors, assistants. Many of them are longtime associates and family members, with whom Donaldson planned to conquer the video platform in the early years.

MrBeast Burger: Revolution in Fast Food

In December 2020, MrBeast announced entering the restaurant business. The first outlet opened in Greenville with free food giveaways. The menu included burgers, fries, desserts, and drinks. On opening day, the car line stretched over 30 km— a brilliant demonstration of his audience’s power.

Today, the network has over 300 outlets across the US and several beyond. The success was achieved thanks to an innovative virtual restaurant model. Orders are accepted only through an app, and preparation takes place in partner cafes, allowing them to avoid costly infrastructure development. In the first three months, over a million burgers were sold. In August 2022, MrBeast opened his first full offline restaurant, strengthening his position in the fast-food sector.

Feastables: The Sweet Component of the Portfolio

Expansion moved into snacks. MrBeast Bar and MrBeast Cookies are sold online and at Walmart shelves. The launch of the line in January 2022 was accompanied by a large-scale giveaway and contest. Ten golden tickets were hidden inside the chocolates, and those who found them gained the right to prepare desserts under the supervision of legendary British chef Gordon Ramsay. The winner received a Willy Wonka-style chocolate factory.

The results met expectations: in the first months, Feastables generated over $10 million in revenue, becoming one of the most dynamic snack brands in the US market.

Multi-Level Success Strategy

MrBeast’s asset portfolio demonstrates a well-thought-out diversification strategy. From content production to retail, from virtual restaurants to physical locations—each direction strengthens the other. The audience gathered on YouTube becomes consumers of burgers and chocolate, and offline successes feed back into content. Thus, a personal brand is not just formed but a full-fledged ecosystem, where how much MrBeast earns becomes a secondary question compared to the scale of the empire he has built.