MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) Bio: Age, Height, Wife, Family, Career, Net Worth

From a teenager filming video game commentary in his childhood bedroom to the most subscribed individual creator on YouTube with over 300 million followers, Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson has redefined what it means to be an influencer in the digital age. The 26-year-old entrepreneur, philanthropist, and content creator has built a $500 million to $1 billion empire through viral stunts, extreme generosity, and a relentless work ethic—all while battling Crohn’s disease and maintaining one of the most private personal lives in the creator economy.

Quick Facts

Early Life & Education

Birth & Childhood
James Stephen Donaldson was born on May 7, 1998, in Wichita, Kansas. His parents, Stephen and Sue Donaldson, raised him in a middle-class household with his older brother Charles “CJ” Donaldson. The family relocated to Greenville, North Carolina, when Jimmy was young, and this small Southern town would become the unlikely headquarters of a global media empire.

Health Struggles
At age 13, Donaldson was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes severe abdominal pain, fatigue, and digestive issues. The diagnosis came after years of mysterious symptoms. “I would be in so much pain I couldn’t do anything,” he later recalled. The condition has required ongoing medication and management throughout his life and career.

Early YouTube Career (2012–2016)
Donaldson created his first YouTube channel, “MrBeast6000,” on February 19, 2012, at age 13. His early content consisted of:

• Video game commentary (Minecraft, Call of Duty)
• “Worst Intros on YouTube” series
• Estimating other YouTubers’ wealth
• Reaction videos

For years, he struggled to gain traction, earning minimal revenue while reinvesting everything into production. He attended Greenville Christian Academy and graduated in 2016. He briefly enrolled at East Carolina University but dropped out after two weeks to focus on YouTube full-time—a decision his mother initially opposed.

Career Journey

The Breakthrough (2017)

“Counting to 100,000”
Donaldson’s breakthrough came on January 8, 2017, with the video “Counting to 100,000,” where he literally counted to 100,000 over 40+ hours. The video went viral, establishing his signature format: extreme dedication to absurd concepts. He followed this with “Counting to 200,000” and other endurance challenges.

The Giving Begins
Donaldson realized that videos featuring large sums of money and generosity performed exceptionally well. His content evolved into:

• Giving $10,000 to random Twitch streamers
• Tipping pizza delivery drivers $10,000
• Buying cars for strangers
• Last to leave challenges with massive prizes

Scaling the Beast (2018–2020)

Team Expansion
As revenue grew, Donaldson hired childhood friends and local talent to help with production. His team expanded from 1 to over 100 employees. Key early hires included:

• Kris Tyson (childhood friend, appeared in videos until 2023)
• Chandler Hallow (appeared in videos, later fired in 2024)
• Karl Jacobs (joined 2019)
• Nolan Hansen (joined 2020)

Viral Milestones

• 2018: $1 million given away in single video
• 2019: “I Opened A FREE BANK” and other large-scale concepts
• 2020: “I Spent 50 Hours Buried Alive” (100M+ views)

The Business Empire (2020–Present)

MrBeast Burger (2020)
Launched in December 2020 as a virtual restaurant brand partnering with existing kitchens nationwide. By 2023, it had expanded to 1,700+ locations. However, Donaldson became embroiled in lawsuits with Virtual Dining Concepts, alleging quality control issues and seeking to terminate the partnership.

Feastables (2022)
Donaldson launched Feastables, a chocolate bar brand positioned as a healthier alternative to competitors. The brand gained massive attention through YouTube promotions and giveaways. By 2024, Feastables was valued at over $100 million.

Beast Philanthropy (2021)
Registered as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, Beast Philanthropy focuses on food insecurity, clean water access, and disaster relief. The channel has raised millions and operates food banks.

Beast Games (2024)
Donaldson partnered with Amazon Prime Video for “Beast Games,” a reality competition series with a $5 million prize—the largest in television history. The show faced production controversies but demonstrated his mainstream media crossover.

YouTube Dominance (2021–2026)

Subscriber Milestones:

• 100 million: July 2022
• 200 million: October 2023
• 300 million: July 2024
• 350 million: Projected 2025

Most Viewed Videos:

1. “$456,000 Squid Game in Real Life!” — 500M+ views
2. “I Spent 50 Hours in Solitary Confinement” — 300M+ views
3. “I Built 100 Wells in Africa” — 200M+ views
4. “Last to Leave Circle Wins $500,000” — 200M+ views

Channel Statistics (2026):

• Main Channel: 350+ million subscribers
• Total Views: 50+ billion
• Monthly Earnings: $30–50 million (estimated)
• Annual Revenue: $500–700 million (estimated across all ventures)

Personal Life

Relationship with Thea Booysen (2022–Present)

Meeting
Donaldson met Thea Booysen, a South African YouTuber and author, in late 2022. Booysen, who goes by “TheaBeasty” online, holds degrees in law and psychology and has her own YouTube channel focused on gaming and storytelling.

The Relationship
The couple went public in 2023, with Booysen appearing in some MrBeast videos. Unlike many creator relationships, they have maintained relative privacy. Donaldson has stated that Booysen helps him manage stress and health issues.

2025 Engagement Rumors
In 2025, fans speculated about an engagement after Booysen was seen wearing a ring, but neither has confirmed marriage plans as of 2026.

Health: Crohn’s Disease Management

Donaldson has been remarkably open about his Crohn’s disease, using his platform to raise awareness. Key details:

• Diagnosed at age 13
• Requires daily medication
• Experiences flare-ups during high-stress periods
• Follows a strict diet to manage symptoms
• Has stated that stress exacerbates his condition

His transparency about chronic illness has made him an unlikely advocate for digestive health awareness.

Family Relationships

Parents: Stephen and Sue Donaldson
Donaldson maintains close relationships with his parents. His mother Sue initially opposed his YouTube career but now works with him. His father Stephen has appeared in videos.

Brother: Charles “CJ” Donaldson
CJ Donaldson has his own YouTube channel, “CJ These Days,” and has collaborated with Jimmy. The brothers maintain a supportive relationship despite CJ’s smaller following.

No Children
As of 2026, Donaldson has no children. He has stated in interviews that he wants to focus on his career and philanthropic goals before starting a family.

Controversies

MrBeast Burger Lawsuits (2023)
Donaldson sued Virtual Dining Concepts for “inedible food” and quality control failures, seeking to exit the partnership. VDC countersued for $100 million, alleging breach of contract. The dispute highlighted challenges in virtual restaurant models.

Former Employee Allegations (2024)
Several former employees came forward with allegations of:

• Toxic work environment
• Unreasonable demands
• Lack of credit for creative contributions
• Firing of Chandler Hallow without explanation

Donaldson addressed some claims, stating that high standards are necessary for success but acknowledging areas for improvement.

Feastables Factory Conditions (2024)
Reports emerged about working conditions at Feastables manufacturing facilities. Donaldson investigated and implemented changes, though critics argued he should have prevented issues initially.

Beast Games Production Issues (2024)
The Amazon Prime show faced reports of:

• Contestant injuries
• Poor working conditions during filming
• Delayed prize payments

Donaldson and Amazon addressed concerns, with the show ultimately airing successfully.

Faked Videos Accusations
Periodic accusations that certain stunts are staged or use actors. Donaldson generally maintains that while concepts are planned, reactions and outcomes are genuine.

Physical Statistics

Quotes

On success:
“I want to make the best videos possible and help as many people as I can while doing it.”

On money:
“I don’t care about money. I just want to make the best videos possible.”

On Crohn’s disease:
“Having Crohn’s has taught me that I can’t take my health for granted. Some days are really hard, but I push through.”

On his work ethic:
“I work 12–14 hours every single day. I don’t take weekends off. This is my life.”

On philanthropy:
“I want to die with zero dollars in my bank account and know that I helped as many people as possible.”

Career Stats & Achievements

Awards:

• 12 Streamy Awards
• 4 Kids’ Choice Awards
• Creator of the Year (multiple years)
• Time 100 Most Influential People (2023)

Favorites

Salary & Net Worth

Net Worth Dispute:

• Forbes (2024): $500 million
• Celebrity Net Worth: $1 billion
• Donaldson’s Claim: “I’m not a billionaire”

Income Sources:

• YouTube Ad Revenue: $30–50 million monthly
• Sponsorships: $1–3 million per video (estimated)
• Feastables: $50–100 million annually
• Beast Games/Amazon: $100 million deal
• Merchandise: Significant revenue
• Investments: Various tech and media investments

Expenses:
Donaldson famously reinvests nearly all revenue into video production. A single video can cost:

• $1–3 million in prizes/giveaways
• $100,000–$500,000 in production
• Hundreds of thousands in crew salaries

He has stated he lives relatively modestly despite his wealth, focusing on growing his businesses and philanthropic impact.

Interesting Facts

1. First Video: His first YouTube video was uploaded at age 13 and earned him just a few dollars over several years.
2. Crohn’s Advocate: One of the most visible celebrities with Crohn’s disease, helping reduce stigma around the condition.
3. No Private Jet: Despite his wealth, he reportedly does not own a private jet, preferring commercial travel for environmental reasons.
4. Team Loyalty: Many of his core team members are childhood friends from Greenville, North Carolina.
5. Color Blind: He is color blind, specifically red-green color blind, which he has mentioned in videos.
6. Tourette’s: Has mentioned having mild Tourette’s syndrome, which causes occasional tics.
7. Giveaway Philosophy: He has stated he wants to give away all his money before he dies, aiming to “die broke.”
8. Production Scale: His videos often involve 50–100+ crew members, custom-built sets, and months of planning.
9. Secret Videos: Has filmed videos years in advance that have not yet been released.
10. Beast Philanthropy: The charity channel operates at a loss, funded by main channel revenue.

Did You Know Already?

• Donaldson turned down a $1 billion offer for his YouTube channels and businesses in 2022, stating he wanted to maintain control.
• He has built over 100 wells in Africa, providing clean water to hundreds of thousands of people.
• His “Squid Game” video cost $3.5 million to produce and earned over $10 million in ad revenue.
• He employs over 250 people across his various companies.
• Donaldson has stated he works 12–14 hours daily, 7 days a week.
• He bought his hometown neighborhood in Greenville, North Carolina, for his team to live and work in.
• His brother CJ has over 5 million YouTube subscribers on his own channel.
• Donaldson has collaborated with major celebrities including Justin Timberlake, ariana grande, and Logan Paul.
• He has been open about his struggles with depression and anxiety alongside his physical health issues.
• The MrBeast logo and branding were designed by his childhood friend.

Social Media Links

• YouTube (Main): @MrBeast — 350M+ subscribers
• YouTube (Gaming): @MrBeastGaming — 40M+ subscribers
• YouTube (Philanthropy): @BeastPhilanthropy
• Instagram: @mrbeast — 60M+ followers
• Twitter/X: @MrBeast — 30M+ followers
• TikTok: @mrbeast — 100M+ followers
• Facebook: MrBeast

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is MrBeast?
MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) was born on May 7, 1998, making him 27 years 8 months old years old as of 2026.

How tall is MrBeast?
MrBeast is approximately 6’2″ to 6’4″ (1.88–1.93m). Most sources cite 6’2″ or 6’3″, though some claim 6’4″.

What is MrBeast’s real name?
MrBeast’s real name is James Stephen Donaldson.

Who is MrBeast’s girlfriend?
MrBeast has been dating Thea Booysen (known online as “TheaBeasty”), a South African YouTuber and author, since 2022.

What is MrBeast’s net worth?
Estimates vary widely: Forbes estimates $500 million, while Celebrity Net Worth claims $1 billion. Donaldson himself has stated he is not a billionaire, though his empire generates $500–700 million annually.

Does MrBeast have Crohn’s disease?
Yes, Donaldson was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 13. He has been open about his struggles with the chronic condition and how it affects his daily life.

How many YouTube subscribers does MrBeast have?
As of 2026, MrBeast’s main channel has over 350 million subscribers, making him the most-subscribed individual creator on YouTube and second overall only to T-Series.

Is MrBeast married?
No, as of 2026, MrBeast is not married. He has been in a relationship with Thea Booysen since 2022, but they have not announced engagement or marriage plans.

What businesses does MrBeast own?
MrBeast owns Feastables (chocolate brand), MrBeast Burger (virtual restaurant chain, though in legal disputes), Beast Philanthropy (charity), and various media production companies. He also has partnerships with Amazon for “Beast Games.”

Where does MrBeast live?
MrBeast primarily resides in Greenville, North Carolina, where he grew up. He has also purchased property in Las Vegas, Nevada for business operations and filming.

Conclusion

Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson’s journey from a Crohn’s-stricken teenager filming in his bedroom to the most influential creator on the planet represents the definitive success story of the digital age. At 27, he has built a media empire that rivals traditional entertainment companies, given away over $100 million, and fundamentally changed how philanthropy intersects with content creation.

His willingness to reinvest every dollar into bigger, more impactful videos has created a new category of entertainment—one where extreme generosity is the hook and social good is the byproduct. Whether he’s building wells in Africa, giving away private islands, or simply counting to 100,000, MrBeast has proven that in the attention economy, the best way to succeed is to give as much as you receive.

As he approaches his 30s with a $500 million to $1 billion empire, a supportive girlfriend, and an unmatched platform for good, the question is no longer whether MrBeast can maintain his success, but how he will choose to use it to change the world.

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