Hold onto your WiFi, folks, as MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, has once again surpassed himself. The YouTube king now has 341 million subscribers, which is more people than the entire U.S. population. Yep, there are literally more people watching his videos than there are Americans debating pineapple on pizza. Let’s dive into how this happened, why we love him, and what makes MrBeast the ultimate internet icon.

The wild beginnings: A kid with a dream and a webcam

Rewind to 2012. Picture a 13-year-old Jimmy, probably sitting in his room with a basic webcam, playing Minecraft and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. His channel? It wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire. But did that stop him? Nope.

Five years later, in 2017, he posted a video that would change everything: “Counting to 100,000.” That’s it. He sat there and counted. For 40 hours. I can barely commit to watching a two-hour movie, so props to him! Turns out, the internet loved it. That quirky, why-would-anyone-do-this vibe became his trademark. And Jimmy wasn’t stopping there.

He followed up with other classics like “Reading the dictionary for 24 hours” and “Saying Logan Paul 100,000 times.” It’s giving chaotic dedication, and we’re here for it.

From counting to giving

Once the YouTube dollars started rolling in, Jimmy didn’t just sit back and flex his earnings. Oh no, he levelled up. Instead of buying a yacht or a private jet, he started giving it all away.

The first viral giveaway? Letting strangers use his credit card in Walmart. Imagine walking into a store for milk and walking out with free TVs, a couch, and an inflatable pool. (Where was this energy when I needed school supplies?)

From handing out stacks of cash to offering cars and even houses, MrBeast turned philanthropy into entertainment. He’s not just a YouTuber; he’s the Santa Claus of the internet, and we’re all unwrapping the gifts through our screens.

The biggest flex yet: Beast Games

Now, let’s talk about his most OTT project so far. Remember when he recreated Squid Game? Well, that was just the beginning. In December 2024, MrBeast launched Beast Games on Prime Video. It’s being called “the largest game show in history,” featuring 2,000 contestants and a jaw-dropping $5 million prize. FIVE. MILLION. DOLLARS.

It’s like The Hunger Games, but with cash prizes and fewer, you know, life-threatening situations. The first two episodes aired before Christmas, and let’s just say they’ve got people hooked. The production is next-level, the challenges are wild, and the stakes? Higher than my caffeine intake during deadlines.

Why we love MrBeast

So, what makes MrBeast so darn lovable? Is it the crazy stunts? The big giveaways? The fact that he once ate a $70,000 pizza just to see if it was worth it? (Spoiler: it wasn’t.)

In all honesty, it is a combination of the aforementioned and the fact that Jimmy appears to be a typical individual. Despite the millions of dollars and millions of fans, he still comes across as humble and grounded. It’s like he’s just a big kid with an even bigger heart.

And now, with more subscribers than there are people in the U.S., he’s not just a YouTuber; he’s a phenomenon. A movement. The internet’s favourite philanthropist, chaos creator, and all-around good guy.

So, cheers to MrBeast, the man who turned counting numbers into a global empire. Regardless of your preference for binge-watching his giveaways or aspiring to participate in the next Beast Games, it’s undeniable that Jimmy is just beginning his journey. And honestly? We can’t wait to see what he does next.

What’s your favourite MrBeast video? Let me know in the comments—or better yet, let’s all just meet up at Walmart and hope he’s filming.