YouTube megastar MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, uploaded a video directly on Elon Musk’s X, despite his previous declaration that he would not do so.
“$1 vs $100,000,000 Car” quickly gained traction, amassing 27 million views within seven hours of being posted. The video, which has already been uploaded on YouTube with over 200 million views, was posted to “test” the platform, says Donaldson.
First MrBeast video posted directly on 𝕏! https://t.co/ybWNeiVlAb
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 16, 2024
This move follows a public request from Musk himself, urging Donaldson to share his content directly on X. Donaldson initially declined, basically saying that X didn’t pay enough to make it worthwhile.
My videos cost millions to make and even if they got a billion views on X it wouldn’t fund a fraction of it :/
— MrBeast (@MrBeast) December 30, 2023
I’m down though to test stuff once monetization is really cranking!
Donaldson is currently YouTube’s most popular and arguably highest-earning creator with over 225 million subscribers as of this writing. And he previously said that “some YouTubers get $20+ rpms even after YouTube takes their cut.” On X, he only has about 25 million followers, and the platform’s creator program does leave a lot to be desired.
In October, Donaldson told Musk on X that “higher compensation will be hard,” given the platform’s current setup and performance. “I’d be shocked if you cracked that code,” he added.
Higher compensation will be hard, some YouTubers get $20+ rpms even after YouTube takes their cut. I’d be shocked if you crack that code
— MrBeast (@MrBeast) November 22, 2022
Shortly after his most recent rejection, Musk announced that “creator rewards will increase significantly this year,” without giving any details.
Creator rewards will increase significantly this year https://t.co/TlQKxFci9y
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 9, 2024
Donaldson said on X that he’ll update with the ad revenue numbers next week.
Information for this story was found via X, Business Insider, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.