Who is MrBeast? Meet the YouTube superstar worth $750million as he drives Aussies wild by giving away luxury cars
MrBeast landed in Australia earlier this week and sent fans into a frenzy by giving away several luxury cars, including a Lamborghini worth $450,000.
The 26-year-old, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, is already the world’s richest YouTuber in the world, with an estimated net worth of more than $750 million and more than 288 million subscribers to his channel.
A lucky Australian fan won the $450,000 Lamborghini during a major competition at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday, with nine other cars up for grabs.
Notable vehicles included a Porsche, Mercedes, Tesla, the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine van and a Jurassic-Park-themed Volkswagen.
MrBeast is currently Down Under promoting the launch of his Feastables chocolate bar, which is available nationwide.
He is also offering Australians the chance to win a car with the purchase of a chocolate bar.
But fans are already turning against the social media star, who has nearly 60 million Instagram followers, claiming the giveaway is a “scam.”
TikTok user @gabenxoe shared a video showing her winning a car after purchasing several Feastables and spinning to win.
MrBeast (pictured) landed in Australia earlier this week and sent fans into a frenzy by giving away several luxury cars, including a Lamborghini worth $450,000
A lucky Aussie fan won the $450,000 Lamborghini during a major giveaway at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday, while nine other cars were also up for grabs
The woman landed on three cars with her spin, but the result was: ‘Sorry! Not this time.’
“I played your game and I won. And then you said to me, ‘Womp womp,'” she said in the video.
‘When I contacted your team they said, “Sorry for the miscommunication. You are not one of the registered winners. Here are 10 free spins.” 10 free spins?! I’d rather take the car personally.’
She continued, “I found out I’m not the only one having this problem. There have actually been many people on this app and other apps sharing their experiences, sharing screenshots of their wins and being told, “Sorry, not this time.”
“So what’s going on? Because I don’t understand how we can play a game, win, and be told we’re not winning.”
Thousands flocked to the Sydney Opera House for a chance to win a striking new car
His success is built around extravagant stunts that set him apart from his rivals
Despite MrBeast’s well-documented philanthropy, there have been previous allegations of workplace bullying – and as his fame grows, scrutiny is only likely to increase.
In 2021, De New York Times Eleven people who worked for the YouTuber said his “attitude changed when there weren’t cameras around” and described “a difficult work environment.”
Matt Turner, editor for Donaldson from 2018 to 2019, said he was verbally abused almost daily and posted a video explaining the allegations.
He also wrote in a now-deleted Twitter thread that he was “screamed at, bullied every day… and replaced by MrBeast,” according to The New York Times.
Nate Anderson, who worked for Donaldson for a week, also claimed that the YouTuber was a perfectionist who made unreasonable demands.
Donaldson has been dogged by accusations of workplace toxicity. Matt Turner, Donaldson’s editor from 2018 to 2019, said he was verbally abused almost daily.
Gareth Boyd, head of growth at Finty.com, believes such accusations could be particularly damaging to Donaldson’s business model, which previously relied on an impression of sympathy.
“His personal brand is that he’s an average guy who reinvests his money and he does it for fun,” Boyd says. ‘He doesn’t drive around in a Lamborghini, he gives them away.
“But as he becomes more and more popular and the smaller circle he has – he’s still pretty much surrounded by childhood friends – there will be a few who eventually leave and leak stories and somehow the inside accounts will come out. ‘
Born in Wichita, Kansas, before growing up in Greenville, North Carolina, MrBeast uploaded his first YouTube video in February 2012, at the age of 13.
His early content revolved around harmless jokes about friends.
MrBeast uploaded his first YouTube video in February 2012, at the age of 13
Most of MrBeast’s giveaways are funded by brand deals and advertising revenue
His first hit was a video in which it took him four hours to count to 100,000. As his following grew, MrBeast moved towards the lavish giveaways that have become his trademark.
It started small, with giving away cash prizes to members of his community, but quickly gained momentum and in 2018 he donated $100,000 worth of products to a homeless shelter.
He has since repeated the dose on an Uber driver, a waitress and people in parking lots.
In one video, he dropped $20,000 from a drone and gave a pizza guy the house he was delivering to as a tip.
Gareth Boyd said MrBeast outgrew other YouTubers because his stunts, which are not limited to acts of charity, were “completely and utterly unlike anything else anyone did.”
“Going to a football training field and seeing who can hold a plane the longest, what other TV show does that?” he added.
MrBeast himself has attributed his success to innovative thinking and calculated risk-taking.
He also has an eye for new opportunities and brand deals and is expanding his YouTube empire into the food and beverage sector.
Most of MrBeast’s giveaways are funded by brand deals and advertising revenue.