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Despite being one of the most recognizable and successful content creators in the world, Jimmy Donaldson — better known as MrBeast — recently admitted that he's borrowing money from his mother to fund his upcoming wedding.
Donaldson, 27, who boasts over 400 million subscribers across his platforms and is reportedly worth around $1 billion through ventures like Beast Industries and his Amazon Prime show Beast Games, says he has very little personal cash. The reason? He reinvests nearly everything he earns.
"I personally have very little money because I reinvest everything," Donaldson wrote in response to a post on X . "I think this year we'll spend around a quarter of a billion on content. Ironically, I'm actually borrowing $ from my mom to pay for my upcoming wedding lol. But sure, on paper the businesses I own are worth a lot."
Donaldson got engaged to fellow content creator and author Thea Booysen on Christmas Day 2024, and the couple plan to have a private island wedding with close friends and family.
While his extravagant content — from recreating Willy Wonka's chocolate factory to giving away millions of dollars in cash — has made him an internet legend, Donaldson has remained transparent about the financial toll such productions take. He previously disclosed on The Diary of a CEO podcast that he had less than $1 million in his actual bank account despite his billionaire valuation.
MrBeast has also been cautious about encouraging others to pursue content creation recklessly, warning fans, "It's painful to see people quit their job/drop out of school to make content full time before they're ready... for every person like me that makes it, thousands don't."
Although Beast Industries reported $473 million in revenue in 2024 and forecasts nearly $900 million in 2025, Donaldson says he still lives in his studio, rarely takes vacations, and continues to let his mom manage his finances.
"I literally told my mom I'd rather be homeless than do anything else," he wrote, reflecting on his early struggles before making it big. "The greatest gift in life is being able to wake up every day with a purpose."
