From YouTube Star to Wall Street Prospect

Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, has turned viral stunts and giveaways into a business empire that might soon be available to everyday investors. The content creator who became YouTube's most-followed person with 453 million subscribers now oversees Beast Industries, a company valued at $5 billion that could be eyeing a public debut.

Beast Industries CEO Jeff Housenbold dropped some intriguing hints at the recent DealBook Summit about the company's future plans. "At some point, we want to be able to give the 1.4 billion unique people around the world who has watched Jimmy's content the last 90 days a chance to be owners of the company," Housenbold said, according to reports.

Of course, he didn't provide specifics on timing or structure. Will it be a traditional IPO? Some alternative equity offering? That remains to be seen. But the intention is clear: MrBeast wants his massive fanbase to have skin in the game.

More Than Just YouTube Videos

Beast Industries encompasses far more than just Donaldson's YouTube channel, though that remains the engine driving everything else. The company includes Feastables, his chocolate brand that reportedly generates the bulk of the company's profits. There's also talk of expanding into a phone company and finance app, because why not?

"From day one, we're a global media company, and now we're working on monetizing that viewership, that fandom, and that trust we built," Housenbold explained. It's the classic creator economy playbook: build an audience, earn their trust, then sell them stuff they actually want.

The IPO speculation comes at an opportune moment. The second season of "Beast Games" launches on Amazon.com Inc.'s (AMZN) Prime Video on January 7, 2026. This season features 200 contestants competing for a $5 million prize, with three episodes dropping on day one and weekly releases following. The first season already set records for prize money and pulled impressive viewership numbers for Amazon's platform.

Smart Money Already Placed Its Bets

Here's what should get investors' attention: some pretty sophisticated money has already backed Beast Industries through multiple funding rounds. Chamath Palihapitiya, the SPAC king and "All-In Podcast" co-host, and Alexis Ohanian, Reddit's founder, both have stakes in the company.

Palihapitiya shared his investment thesis in his year-end portfolio review, and it's worth noting. "Jimmy Donaldson represents a new template for media and commerce, proving that an individual creator can build an empire rivaling large corporations," he said.

What impressed Palihapitiya was how MrBeast launched and scaled his own product lines using his online influence rather than taking the traditional endorsement route. He also highlighted how Donaldson's charitable work creates a virtuous cycle of viral content, positive impact, and business growth. "MrBeast has become a household name for many around the world and a defining figure of the creator economy," Palihapitiya noted.

Ohanian invested through his Seven Seven Six venture capital firm and has publicly praised Beast Industries' growth trajectory and MrBeast's accomplishments on social media.

What It Could Mean for Retail Investors

If Beast Industries does go public, retail investors would get something rare: the chance to invest in the fastest-growing content creator on the planet while riding alongside two investors who've proven themselves repeatedly. Whether the company can maintain its momentum and successfully transition from private growth story to public company remains the big question. But with multiple revenue streams, a massive global audience, and proven ability to turn attention into dollars, MrBeast's empire might just be the kind of creator economy bet that actually makes sense.