If you’re a fan of content creators on social media, specifically YouTube, the name MrBeast is probably a regular part of your vocabulary.
Jimmy Donaldson has been going by the moniker for years on his YouTube channel, which features everything from charitable acts to popular challenges — and, most notably, videos in which he gives away massive sums of money.
In what’s become known as “stunt philanthropy,” MrBeast offers money, goods, and often fresh starts to those who cross his path, and it’s pretty incredible to watch. He’s adopted out entire dog shelters (while providing new owners with everything they need to take their pets home), partnered with homeless shelters and hospitals, and even worked with a NASA Engineer for an Arbor Day initiative.
That charity has been offset, recently, by a string of controversies that have massively changed the optics of the MrBeast brand. Between accusations of abuse and concerning allegations of grooming surrounding his former co-host, Ava Kris Tyson, possibly-illegal giveaways akin to gambling — particularly worrisome, as so much of his audience is children — and testimony by former employees about terrible and exploitative working conditions and less-than-honest challenges and results, MrBeast has seen his brand take a major hit in recent months.
All the bad doesn’t erase the charitable acts MrBeast is known for, but it does color all the praise he’s gotten over the years. So why does MrBeast work so closely with charity? Are all those giveaways actually as altruistic as they seem?
MrBeast’s brand is giving to others
MrBeast has said several times that he wants to use his influence to give things away — he isn’t after a certain level of success to benefit himself. He wants to use his status to help others. Ideally, his big game plan is to open homeless shelters and food banks and then give the money that he’s made off of his channel away.
He has stocked several food banks throughout his time on YouTube, given to homeless shelters, raised money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, helped people fund large purchases such as cars and homes — and even given people vehicles and houses.
Many younger viewers and fledgling content creators look up to his channel, and find inspiration to do the same. The only issue arises when you examine the backlash the creator has received in recent years. While it by no means erases his charitable work, it does change the optics of this once untouchable creator. How he responds to the continued backlash, and how he spends his ever mounting money, will prove whether or not all those claims of altruism were ever true. One thing’s for sure — he’ll have a hard time keeping to his promise to die with “0 dollars” in the bank, given that he’s officially among the world’s youngest billionaires.
MrBeast’s following is huge, and so are the stakes
MrBeast celebrated 100,000,000 subscribers in 2022, and fellow YouTubers were happy to share praise and congratulations with the philanthropist. Several said that besides his work for others, he inspires them in their journey as content creators.
His fans were excited to share in this significant moment with him, and for a while, it seemed like MrBeast’s massive reach seemed to be in capable, even endearing hands.
Some of MrBeast’s best videos and giveaways
MrBeast’s achievements in the YouTube medium are admittedly pretty great. “Giving 1,000,000 Of Food To People In Need” was a challenge MrBeast did where, well, he gave 1,000,000 worth of food to those in need. Through the video, he helped explain why it was so important to give to food banks and help those who are struggling with hunger.
“I Adopted EVERY Dog In A Dog Shelter” was a video that took MrBeast nine months to film, and it was worth every second. He picked an animal shelter and made it his goal to get every single dog adopted. He took out advertising, printed flyers, and worked with the public to give the dogs new homes.
He also sent their new owners home with rewards for picking the shelter animals, including food, funds, and treats/toys for their new furry friends.
“I Opened A FREE BANK” was also a massive video for MrBeast. He genuinely did just what the title says — opened a bank and decided to give money to those who needed it. The stories of the people who came in were everything from heartbreaking to heartwarming.
You could get lost in the videos on MrBeast’s page, and their friendly, accessible do-gooder vibe. But as the axiom goes, you should never meet your heroes. And it seems like this particular hero is being met with some very uncomfortable truths about his brand, his career, and his future.