The world’s biggest creator, MrBeast, grew up on YouTube videos, but now he has another media obsession.
MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, said he’s been trying to learn more about culture this past year by deeply studying movies — including every Christopher Nolan film. He named 2008’s “The Dark Knight” as a favorite.
“I’ve just been obsessed recently over telling great stories,” he said. “And I grew up watching basically only YouTube, and I didn’t really watch movies or anything growing up.”
Donaldson, 27, spoke on Wednesday at the Time100 Summit. He was named to the 2026 Time100 list, recognizing the “world’s most influential people.”
Donaldson’s recent obsession with Hollywood might come as a surprise, given that he’s built a media company outside the entertainment establishment. When asked if he compares himself to any other entertainment companies, he said he considers what he does unique. He gave examples of video projects focused on showing people what it’s like inside the pyramids or making the world’s largest water balloon.
“What we do is very different than almost any company out there,” Donaldson said. “Part of why we are the largest YouTube channel is we really push to do things you can’t find anywhere else.” Donaldson has about 479 million subscribers on his main YouTube channel.
Donaldson recently announced plans to level up his video output this year, tapping former NBCU unscripted executive Corie Henson as president of the company’s studio division.
Outside media, he’s been branching out to more consumer products. He built a snack business, Feastables; acquired a financial services company, Step; and is plotting a mobile phone service. Donaldson said his company now has 750 employees.
MrBeast’s CEO has compared the company to Disney in investor pitches, but Donaldson himself seemed reluctant to fully embrace the comparison.
“We’re doing it a completely different way,” he said.
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