Fortune Magazine reports that the world’s highest paid YouTuber is seeking a 10-figure valuation for his multiple money-making ventures. If he’s successful, that would be the first influencer-led businesses to reach such a valuation.
MrBeast (real name Jimmy Donaldson) is the fifth most subscribed creator on the video platform with a subscriber count of 107 million, but he earns the most money according to—Forbes estimates. Forbes says that Donaldson earns $54 million per year for his extravagant content alone.
He’s known for daring challenges with his friends and experimenting with dangerous stunts on himself, giving away money to his friends, and strangers. which always come with eye-wateringly rich prizes. He has also given away cars and houses.
The Mr. Beast empire extends beyond entertainment and into MrBeast burgers decliners and, a physical restaurant for his burger chain, then there is a snack brand called Feastables. The social butterfly is working on a Netflix show according to Fortune.
MrBeast’s search for brand valuation comes a month after Kanye West’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian announced her venture on called SKKY Partners. The popular reality star posted on social media: “I’m pleased to announce the launch of SKKY Partners with private equity veteran Jay Sammons as co-founder and co-managing partner, along with Kris Jenner who will serve as partner at our firm.”
SKKY Partners is looking to take the Kardashians media brands and products under one private equity firm.
Capitalizing on the Founders’ collective experience investing in and building large scale consumer and media businesses, along with Kardashian’s global reach and unrivaled social influence, the firm will make both control and minority investments in growth-oriented, market-leading consumer and media companies.
SKKY’s target sectors include consumer products, digital & e-commerce, consumer media & entertainment, hospitality and luxury. The Founders’ understanding of the power of great brands, social influence, globalization and the importance of environmental, social and governance excellence will enable SKKY Partners to elevate and leave each company in which it invests better than it was before.
“I have been privileged to spend my career partnering with the founders and leaders of some of the most influential and culturally groundbreaking consumer brands of our time,” said SKKY Partners Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner Jay Sammons. “Now, in partnership with Kim and Kris, I look forward to building SKKY into the leading private equity firm that backs the next generation of innovative, disruptive consumer businesses and brands.”
MrBeast’s Feastables reportedly made over $10 million in revenue in its first few months, while the YouTuber claimed on Twitter that his burger chain “has shared over $100 million in revenue with restaurants across America.”
YouTubers with high-valued businesses
If Donaldson raise the $150 million that he seeks in a funding round for his YouTube channels and various other businesses, according to a report by Axios citing anonymous sources- it would value the businesses together at $1.5 billion.
It would be the first institutional investment into Donaldson’s overall portfolio; Feastables separately raised $5 million in January at a $50 million valuation.
Donaldson would be the first creator of his kind to reach such a valuation, although not the first YouTube creator to attract investors. The company that owns YouTube kids’ channel CoComelon, Moonbug Entertainment, was acquired for $3 billion by Candle Media in 2021.
Meanwhile, the company that manages MrBeast, Night Media, has raised $100 million and teamed up with the Chernin Group to form Night Capital, which aims to boost creators by having them sell retail products to their communities.
Stay with WMV, we will reach out to MrBeast for comments.
