From: officialflagrant
Jimmy Donaldson, widely known as MrBeast, has built his brand around large-scale challenges and philanthropic acts, often giving away vast sums of money and prizes. His approach to wealth is deeply rooted in his desire to reinvest in his content and help others [00:06:22].
Philosophy on Money and Giving
MrBeast views money as a means to grow his company and assist people, rather than for personal accumulation [01:52:48]. He aims to make “tons of money and help people” [01:50:09]. He believes that giving is inherently more fun [01:50:15]. He openly admits that giving “feels good” [03:06:01], comparing the feeling of uploading a successful video and seeing views climb to a natural high [01:08:49]. This pursuit of “communal joy” and collective experiences drives his spending [01:53:37].
His detachment from materialism became evident after he experimented with buying luxury items like an i8 car or designer clothes, only to find them unfulfilling [01:54:47]. He noted that after his expensive clothes were stolen, he felt it was “perfect” as he was already planning to get rid of them [01:56:01]. He believes everyone needs to go through such a phase to understand that experiences are more valuable than material possessions [01:53:51].
His desire to give stemmed from a young age, starting around 15 years old [01:29:05]. At 18, when he started earning a few thousand dollars a month, he experimented with giving it all away and found that his income continued to grow [00:06:44]. This became a consistent practice, scaling from thousands to millions [00:06:55].
Philanthropic Initiatives and Impact
MrBeast’s giving has evolved over time. Initially, he focused on “hooking up the boys” (his friends and crew) with winnings from challenges. Once they were financially secure, he transitioned to giving money to “random people” [00:08:00].
Some notable examples of his giving include:
- Rewarding early supporters: He would consider giving thousands, or even an island, to the person who “hacked” him in a game when he was 11, which inadvertently led to his first viral video [01:02:30].
- Operating a food pantry: This initiative has taught him much about running a charity [02:01:33]. He notes that many people seeking help are not “freeloaders” but individuals like elderly women whose income disappeared after their husbands passed away, leaving them to choose between food, rent, or phone bills [03:06:26]. Providing free food allows them to afford other necessities [03:07:06].
- Restoring eyesight: He plans a video where he aims to “fix a thousand people’s eyesight” because many cannot afford the necessary procedures [03:36:02].
- Personal acts of kindness: Off-camera, he frequently gives money to homeless individuals [03:07:46]. He recounts an early experience tipping a pizza delivery driver $10,000, who returned the next day crying because the money allowed him to take a day off and spend time with his daughter [03:05:03]. MrBeast found this more fulfilling than giving away millions [03:05:41].
He acknowledges that some critics accuse him of only being philanthropic when cameras are present [03:07:53]. However, he remains unfazed by such accusations, viewing online hate as a sign of relevance rather than a personal attack [03:09:04].
Future Aspirations
MrBeast has expressed interest in running for president when he is in his 40s or 50s. His campaign strategy would be to give away all his money to prove he “can’t be bought,” stating he would have “literally 0 in [his] bank account” [01:03:51]. This would allow him to “just do what’s best for people” and ignore lobbyists [01:04:05].
Long-term, he hopes to become a billionaire and start charities that could include ventures like businesses run by homeless people [02:01:18]. He envisions a future where his influence could leverage the creation of successful companies to help others, potentially making more impact than traditional advertising [01:48:43]. He believes that if he sells commoditized products, people will support them because they know the money will be reinvested to help people rather than used for personal luxury items [02:18:49].