YouTuber MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, gained significant attention after uploading a video directly on Elon Musk’s microblogging platform, X. The video titled “$1 vs $100,000,000 Car” reportedly generated over $250,000 in revenue within a short span of eight days and garnered 161 million views. However, MrBeast expressed skepticism about the experience, referring to it as a “facade.”
In a post on X, MrBeast shared a screenshot of his account’s analytics as proof of the earnings, stating that advertisers noticed the video’s attention and purchased ads, potentially inflating the revenue per view. The screengrab indicated that he would make $263,655 from the video. Despite the apparent success, MrBeast acknowledged that the revenue might be higher due to promoted ads.
Addressing his followers on X, MrBeast announced a spontaneous giveaway, promising to give $25,000 to 10 random people who reposted and followed him, using the $250,000 earned from the X video. The move sparked discussions among users about the nature of ad revenue on the platform and the potential impact of Elon Musk’s promotion.
Some users speculated whether the increased revenue was solely due to advertisers or if there was a boost from Elon Musk himself. One user shared that they received MrBeast’s video as an ad multiple times and questioned the real payout without promoted ads. Others commented on the discrepancy in ad revenue rates, with some expressing surprise at the substantial difference.
Comparisons were drawn between X and YouTube monetization models. While YouTube requires 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of viewing for eligibility, X users must pay a subscription fee of $8 per month for Premium or $16 per month for Premium+ to be eligible for a share of advertising revenue.
Initially, when Elon Musk requested MrBeast to upload videos on the X platform, the YouTuber declined, citing the high production costs of his videos, which he believed wouldn’t be adequately funded on X.
MrBeast, known for his extravagant philanthropy and unique stunts, gained widespread recognition in 2018 for his generous cash giveaways to lesser-known Twitch streamers and YouTubers. According to Forbes, MrBeast’s annual earnings reached an impressive $82 million between June 2022 and June 2023. Despite being on YouTube since 2012, he rose to fame in 2018 and has since engaged in various business ventures while actively supporting charitable causes.
