MrBeast overtakes PewDiePie as most subscribed content creator on YouTube
YouTube star MrBeast, known for his videos revolving around expensive stunts, is now the most subscribed individual on the platform.
MrBeast, or 24-year-old Jimmy Donaldson in real life, already has 111 million subscribers and counting, overtaking long-time No. 1 PewDiePie, who specializes in video games and comedic formatted shows.
During the early hours of Nov. 15, Manila time, MrBeast beat PewDiePie, or Felix Kjelberg in real life, by a several thousand subscribers, based on a live count from esports website Dexerto.
MrBeast has overtaken PewDiePie and is now the most subscribed YouTuber pic.twitter.com/YPXQ4ydWCX
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) November 14, 2022
Last Nov. 11, MrBeast on Twitter shared that he got 111,111,111 subscribers at exactly 11:11 p.m. that day, otherwise known as "11/11."
Two days later, he said he bought 1,111 lottery tickets, as "something is telling" him that he'll win.
MrBeast has been active on YouTube since 2012, but became popular in 2018 for donating thousands of dollars to fellow YouTubers and streamers from Twitch, a video game streaming platform.
He made headlines in recent history for recreating Squid Game, recruiting hundreds of participants to play the viral show's games—sans the deaths.
Last June, he hosted a competition inspired by the novel and movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, giving away $500,000 to the winner.
MrBeast reached 100 million subscribers last July, becoming the second individual YouTuber to reach the subscriber count after PewDiePie.
Accounts that have more followers than them include T-Series (229 million), YouTube Movies (158 million), and Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes (147 million).
According to Forbes magazine, MrBeast is the highest paid YouTube content creator. Forbes estimated that he made $54 million in 2021, with his videos accumulating 10 billion views.