Some successful entrepreneurs with billion-dollar businesses say they may look rich on paper, but look at their bank accounts, and they’re actually cash poor. Social media mogul Jimmy Donaldson, known as MisterBeast to his 460 million YouTube followers, claims he’s just as distracted as everyone else while running a $5 billion entertainment empire.
“I’m borrowing money. What little money I have,” Donaldson said The Wall Street Journal earlier this month. “Technically, everyone watching this video has more money than me and their bank accounts if you subtract the equity value of my company, which doesn’t buy me McDonald’s in the morning.”
The 27-year-old entrepreneur says that despite being a billionaire and owning more than half of his $5 billion company, Beast Industries, he keeps less than $1 million for himself. In addition to his nine-figure Amazon deal and popular YouTube channel with 107 billion lifetime views, Donaldson hits the ultra-rich club — at least on paper — with several successful businesses. He has launched ventures including the multi-million dollar chocolate brand Feastables; Lunchli, a lunchable-esque packaged food product; MrBeast Burger, a virtual restaurant that allows for pickup and drop-off only; and production company MrBeast LLC, which helps produce his viral videos.
Through his wealth, Donaldson is estimated to be worth at least $2.6 billion — though he insists it’s not a fat wad of cash burning a hole in his pocket. Forbes Between April 2024 and April 2025, his annual income is also estimated to reach $85 million, which is more than the average American salary of $62,088 per year. However, that doesn’t mean he’s indulging in luxury and flying private. Donaldson claims he is actually in the red.
“Talking about my personal finances is fun, because no one believes what I say,” Donaldson explained. “They’re like, ‘You’re a billionaire!’ I’m like, ‘That’s net worth.’ I have negative money now.”
“I get up, I work…I’m so busy working that I don’t think about my personal bank account,” Donaldson continued. “I’m just laser-focused on making the best videos possible and making the business as big as possible.”
Donaldson rakes in an eight-figure income and runs a $5 billion business, but still claims to be broke. So where does all his money go? The YouTube star says he’s back in business.
“I personally have very little money because I reinvest everything (I think we’ll spend a quarter of a billion on stuff this year). Ironically, I’m actually borrowing $ from my mom to pay for my upcoming wedding,” Donaldson wrote on X, noting that he’s the only billionaire under 30 who hasn’t gotten his fortune.
