Jimmy Donaldson, widely known as MrBeast on YouTube, is venturing into new territory by testing the waters of Elon Musk’s video-sharing platform, X.
In a move that could potentially reshape the landscape of online content creation, Donaldson uploaded his first video directly to X on Monday, opting to reupload “$1 vs $100,000,000 Car!”—a video that originally gained massive popularity on YouTube with over 211 million views.
Testing X vs. YouTube Ad Revenue with Explosive Views
Expressing his curiosity about the ad revenue potential on X, Donaldson shared his intention to compare the performance between X and YouTube, stating, “I’m curious how much ad revenue a video on X would make, so I’m reuploading this to test it. Will share ad rev next week,” in an X post. By Tuesday morning, the video had already garnered over 52 million views on X.
Elon Musk, the CEO of X, has been actively courting creators and media personalities as the platform transitions into a “video-first” focus. In a blog post on January 9, X announced its commitment to investing in creators, content partnerships, and original content throughout 2024.
The recent addition of shows hosted by figures like Don Lemon, Tulsi Gabbard, and Jim Rome reflects X’s strategic move to diversify its content offerings.
For X, convincing MrBeast to shift from YouTube would be a significant achievement. With over 231 million subscribers on his YouTube account, MrBeast has become one of the internet’s most popular and profitable personalities. Known for his philanthropy and extravagant challenges, MrBeast’s videos often attract millions of views.
Donaldson has grand ambitions and has expressed a desire to emulate the success of Elon Musk. Collaborating with Musk is a dream of his, and the move to experiment with X aligns with Musk’s vision for the platform. X began sharing revenue with creators in July, and Musk has actively promoted it as a destination for content creators.
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MrBeast Debut on X Sparks Speculation on Platform Shift
The collaboration between MrBeast and X comes after Elon Musk suggested in December that Donaldson should post videos on X. In response, Donaldson acknowledged his interest but highlighted the significant costs involved in producing his videos. However, he expressed openness to testing new features once the monetization on X gains momentum.
Elon Musk celebrated the occasion by resharing MrBeast’s video, marking it as the “first MrBeast video posted directly on X!” CEO Linda Yaccarino also expressed excitement, stating, “Achievement unlocked and a lot more to come!” The move raises questions about the potential shift of content creators from established platforms like YouTube to emerging platforms like X, marking a pivotal moment in the evolving landscape of online content creation.
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