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Jimmy Donaldson, better known to his fans as MrBeast, has once again made YouTube history — this time by becoming the first individual content creator to surpass 400 million subscribers on the platform. The milestone puts him over 100 million subscribers ahead of the second most-followed channel, T-Series.

Taking to X to celebrate the feat, Donaldson wrote, “A decade ago before I blew up everyone in my life told me I was too obsessed and constantly told I’d never make it. Despite that, I was in love with making content and grinded every moment my eyes were open for seven years before anyone started watching.”

He recalled telling his mother that he’d “rather be homeless than do anything else,” and today, his channel is 400 million subscribers strong.

MrBeast’s channel, which began in 2012 with gaming content and experimental formats, found its breakout moment in 2017 with a viral video of him counting to 100,000. Since then, his brand of high-stakes challenges, philanthropy-driven giveaways, and jaw-dropping production scale has made him a global icon.

Beyond his viral videos, his initiatives include funding cataract surgeries, cochlear implants, and building houses for unhoused citizens in Jamaica.

MrBeast’s journey has also been marred with a lawsuit. In September of last year, five anonymous contestants brought claims on behalf of everyone who participated in his gameshow series. They alleged they weren’t paid, were subjected to unsafe conditions and experienced sexual harassment while on his $5 million jackpot game show, Beast Games.

In the 54-page legal document, the production was accused of a “culture of misogyny”, controlling the “underfed and overtired” cast and failing to provide a safe working environment.

Two months later, MrBeast claimed he had footage showing that the allegations were “blown out of proportion.” Replying to an X user, he wrote, “We have tons of behind-the-scenes dropping when the show does to show how blown out of proportion these claims were. Just can’t release it now because it would spoil the games.”

In a January post reflecting on hitting 341 million subscribers, MrBeast recalled how people once told him he was “too obsessed” with making videos and would “never make it.” Now, just five months later, he’s shattered even that milestone.

While subscriber counts are just one metric, at 27, MrBeast has already been crowned the youngest self-made billionaire, built a philanthropic brand empire, and redefined what it means to be a creator in the digital age.