In a landmark moment for the YouTube community, MrBeast has overtaken T-Series to become the most subscribed YouTube channel. The popular Indian music label, known for uploading trailers and music videos, held the top spot for five years before being dethroned on Sunday.
MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, was already the most followed individual on the platform. The 26-year-old content creator has now set a new record with an impressive 269 million subscribers, surpassing T-Series’ 266 million and solidifying his dominance on YouTube.
Donaldson has built his channel through nearly 800 videos featuring elaborate stunts, such as giving away private islands, being buried alive, and recreating the Netflix series Squid Game. His engaging and often philanthropic content has garnered a massive following, making him a household name in the digital world.
In a post on X, MrBeast expressed his satisfaction at finally “avenging” fellow YouTube star Felix Kjellberg, also known as PewDiePie, who was previously surpassed by T-Series in 2019. MrBeast’s channel achieved the milestone with its largest ever daily increase in subscribers, gaining over 2 million new followers on Saturday alone.
T-Series had initially set the record by overtaking PewDiePie, who humourously remarked that it took “a massive corporate entity with every song in Bollywood” to beat him. MrBeast’s ascension to the top not only extends his influence on YouTube but also significantly boosts his wealth and reach.
In addition to his main channel, MrBeast runs several other channels focused on gaming, philanthropy, and reaction videos, each with tens of millions of subscribers. His channel’s description humourously advises viewers not to email him asking for money, highlighting the millions he has already given away in various contests and challenges. One such video posted in April saw a lucky participant win US$250,000.
Forbes estimated MrBeast’s net worth at around US$500 million in 2022, and he was ranked first on its list of the top 50 creators in 2023. His financial success is further bolstered by lucrative deals, including a TV contract with Amazon reportedly worth up to US$100 million.
Elon Musk, who has been encouraging video creators to post on his platform X, congratulated MrBeast on his achievement. MrBeast revealed that he earned US$250,000 from his first video posted on X, aligning with Musk’s strategy to make the platform more appealing and profitable for creators.
MrBeast’s new record on YouTube marks a significant milestone in the platform’s history and showcases the power of individual content creators in the digital age.