Jimmy Donaldson becomes the first YouTube creator to reach 500 million subscribers

Jimmy Donaldson, known online as MrBeast, has become the first creator to reach 500 million subscribers on YouTube. The 28-year-old content creator, known for high-production spectacles and large-scale challenges, marked the milestone with a livestream reflecting on his early career. Demographic data indicates that 40% of his audience is aged 13–17, with an additional 20% aged 18–24. Donaldson recently drew attention following a Wall Street Journal interview where he claimed his operations incur financial losses despite his significant corporate holdings. Reports value his net worth at $2.6 billion, noting he holds a $100 million contract with Amazon and a majority stake in Beast Industries, which is currently valued at approximately $5 billion. The creator is widely recognized for pioneering a genre of YouTube content centered on expensive stunts and viral challenges.