How MrBeast Made $54 Million on YouTube in 2021
Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, earned more than any YouTuber in 2021. He raked in $54 million. The second place YouTuber (the infamous Jake Paul) was almost $10 million behind at $45 million for the year.
Celebrity net worth estimates MrBeast’s total net worth at $25 million, which seems low given last year’s earnings. Regardless, these numbers are a king’s ransom for a YouTuber, where the average mortal is lucky to make a few thousand dollars over their lifetime (if that).
How MrBeast made this remarkable YouTube revenue was not by accident or dumb luck. He may not have gone to university, but his discipline, systematic approach, and marketing prowess should be taught at business schools everywhere.
To describe MrBeast’s content over the past decade is almost impossible. He doesn’t neatly fit into any category as his content has evolved from talking about video games, to performing stunts and increasingly philanthropic acts. He literally gives away money now.
What I’m most interested in is his process. Before hearing him on The Joe Rogan Experience, I had no idea who he was. After listening and researching him and his content, I was so inspired I started my own YouTube channel. A little overexcited, I know.
What MrBeast’s story and process proves though is that anyone – and I mean anyone – can achieve their goals as a content creator with enough obsession, discipline, and consistency.
MrBeast’s YouTube Obsession
MrBeast has been YouTubing since age 11. He’s currently 23. Unlike me and many other content creators, he did not create content on the side or as a hobby. For MrBeast, YouTube became his craft. His obsession.
He explained to Joe Rogan how he obsessed over every facet of the YouTube process, from the thumbnail to going viral. Editing, framing, coloring the video – nothing was too small for MrBeast’s obsession.
“You give it enough time, anyone can solve it.”
– MrBeast
After experiencing some success with his first video, he was hooked (he said it was about a video game and got around 20,000 views, but is no longer on YouTube today). It did not lead to riches immediately.
In the early days of YouTube, almost nobody was making money. But MrBeast was not doing it initially for the money. He genuinely enjoyed the process. He was obsessed with perfecting it and creating great content.
By obsessively microanalyzing every step of the YouTube process, he taught himself how to succeed on the platform.
“Don’t start a company unless it’s an obsession and something you love. If you have an exit strategy, it’s not an obsession.”
– Mark Cuban
Intense Discipline
MrBeast was so disciplined about his YouTube obsession that he worked for most of the past decade for free. Anything he did make was reinvested into his craft. It started with buying microphones and evolved to creating more sophisticated videos, with elaborate sets and special effects.
His intense discipline was self-inflicted in part because he hated school and had no other options. Nothing like trying to escape your parent’s house to hold your feet to the fire.
MrBeast had help, however, in holding himself accountable. After graduating high school, he found a group of like-minded “small time” YouTubers, each with a few thousand subscribers. They obsessed over the YouTube process together over Skype, often for 12 hours per day. Each person brought their knowledge base and experiences to the table.
How to go viral, what makes for a good video, how to craft the perfect thumbnail, what’s good pacing – it was trial and error, day in and day out, learning from each other’s mistakes.
MrBeast described how he had no life. Nobody in his YouTuber working group did. But they all had a similar vision and held each other accountable.
According to MrBeast, they each went from thousands of subscribers to millions in a few months.
Consistent Performance
The mark of someone who has perfected their craft is sustained performance at a high level over a long period of time. One hit wonders don’t count.
MrBeast has made popular videos regularly for years. Today his main channel has almost 92 million subscribers, while his other channels collectively have a combined ~200 million subscribers. Those numbers are not typos.
For comparison, Joe Rogan only has 12 million YouTube subscribers. And he’s arguably the most popular podcaster of all time.
As MrBeast stated, “To get to this level it takes a decade.” He started young, but he was consistent, which is rare for a teenager, let alone a typical adult.
The Best Thing About MrBeast
He is so humble. Despite his incredible success and riches, the guy comes off in interviews – and on his channel – like an ordinary 23-year-old.
He talks about hanging “with his boys” and enjoying working with his friends.
He apologizes to his mother for swearing.
He thanks his interviewers constantly for the opportunity to chat with them.
MrBeast is the first to admit that his naturally awkward demeanor and pubescent acne were not what got him to this point. His YouTube obsession, discipline, and consistency made him $50 million in one year on YouTube. It took a decade of intensity, but wow did it pay off.
He’s the perfect example of why college should not be the expectation for everyone. If someone has a healthy obsession and is willing to do whatever it takes to realize their dream, society should encourage that pursuit.
MrBeast is also the perfect example, and inspiration, for other content creators. With enough obsession, discipline, and consistency, we can realize our dreams too.
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