MrBeast says his mom controls his company’s bank account

Despite the success of his YouTube channel and various other businesses, Donaldson doesn’t consider himself a rich person, he said in an interview with Time after being named to the publication’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023 list.  

“I mean, not right now.” Donaldson told Time. 

The reason Donaldson doesn’t believe he’s wealthy at the moment is because all the money he makes from his work gets reinvested back into making more videos. Donaldson’s YouTube channel, which is the most followed on the platform, has posted more than 750 videos since it launched in 2012. Most of his content features either elaborately designed competition show style challenges or generous acts of charity such as paying for cataract surgery or giving homeless people large sums of money. Each video now regularly tops 100 million views and brings in several million dollars in ad revenue and brand sponsorships, according to Time. 

He’s also branched out into several other business ventures. Most notably in the packaged goods space with a line of chocolate bars called Feastables, which he says brings in $100 million a year in revenue. In a testament to his promotional power, Feastables was a success out of the gate, selling one million bars in the first 72 hours of its launch in 2022. The brand now has a jersey sponsorship with the Charlotte Hornets. Venture capitalist Marc Andreesen praised Donaldson and other influencers who launched consumer product lines calling it the “future of brands.” 

During the pandemic Donaldson launched a delivery-only burger restaurant called MrBeast Burgers. Donaldson also has two tech companies with service offerings that content creators might need: data analytics firm ViewStats and Creator Global, which does language dubbing for online video content.  

Donaldson did not respond to a request for comment. 

All of Donaldson’s various businesses combine to bring in at least half a billion dollars, he told Time. And yet, he doesn’t pocket the money, instead preferring to plow it back into his companies, which is why he says he isn’t rich. “Right now, whatever we make, we reinvest,” he said.

Going that route was a risky decision, according to Donaldson. “I’ve reinvested…