YouTube star MrBeast may be a self-made billionaire at just 27, but he says his personal bank account tells a very different story.
The creator, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, recently said he’s actually “cash poor,” despite owning more than half of a company valued at around $5 billion. In a Wall Street Journal interview, Donaldson admitted he’s currently borrowing money because he has almost no cash on hand.
“I have negative money right now,” he said. “Technically, everyone watching this probably has more money than me.”
Donaldson explained that most of his wealth is tied up in his businesses, not sitting in his bank account. He reinvests nearly everything back into his company, Beast Industries, which is still operating like a fast-growing startup where cash flow can be tight.
That approach has led to some surprising moments, including borrowing money from his mom for his wedding and losing tens of millions of dollars on the first season of his Amazon show, Beast Games, after overspending on production.
Even so, Donaldson continues to pour millions into his YouTube videos and major projects, sometimes scrapping expensive productions if they don’t meet his standards. His company has recently worked to cut unnecessary costs after major losses in its media division in 2024.
Now, MrBeast wants to turn his experience into education. He plans to launch Beast Financial, a new venture focused on banking and financial advice, along with a YouTube channel dedicated to teaching people how to manage money.
For someone famous for giving it away, Donaldson says his relationship with money is simple: he doesn’t focus on what’s in his account, only on what he’s building next.