When it comes to MrBeast vs PewDiePie, the financial gap between these YouTube titans has never been wider. While PewDiePie dominated YouTube for years with over 112 million subscribers and an estimated net worth of $54 million by 2023, MrBeast has surged ahead to become YouTube’s first-ever billionaire.
In fact, who is richer—MrBeast or PewDiePie—isn’t even a close competition anymore. According to celebrity net worth estimates, MrBeast’s fortune stands at approximately $1 billion, compared to PewDiePie’s $145 million. This dramatic difference reflects their contrasting approaches to content and business. PewDiePie built his empire through gaming videos and reaction content, earning up to $450,000 for sponsored videos. However, MrBeast’s philanthropy-centered challenges and high-production stunts have propelled him to become the highest-earning YouTuber in 2023, with projections suggesting he’ll generate over $700 million in revenue in 2024 alone.
The MrBeast vs PewDiePie net worth comparison also highlights a fundamental shift in how YouTube success translates to wealth. Beyond ad revenue, MrBeast has expanded into ventures like MrBeast Burger and Feastables snacks, while securing major deals including a $100 million agreement with Amazon for his Beast Games. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into how these two YouTube legends built their empires and explore who truly comes out on top financially in 2025.
Read more: Highest Paid YouTuber 2025
Career Growth and YouTube Journey
Image Source: YouTube
Career Growth and YouTube Journey
PewDiePie’s Rise: From Gaming to Global Fame
The journey of Felix Kjellberg began in 2010 when he registered his “PewDiePie” YouTube channel. Initially focusing on horror game commentaries, particularly Amnesia: The Dark Descent, his authentic reactions and Swedish-English commentary quickly resonated with viewers. By February 2013, his channel reached 5 million subscribers, and he was featured in The New York Times after surpassing 6 million subscribers in April that same year.
Throughout 2013, Kjellberg became “ubiquitous” on YouTube, eventually becoming the most-subscribed channel on August 15, 2013. His “Bro Army” fanbase grew exponentially as his content evolved beyond gaming. By 2016, Time magazine recognized him as one of the world’s 100 most influential people.
MrBeast’s Breakthrough: Viral Challenges and Philanthropy
Meanwhile, Jimmy Donaldson uploaded his first YouTube video in February 2012 as “MrBeast6000” at just 13 years old. Despite having only 30,000 subscribers by mid-2016, everything changed in January 2017 with his breakthrough viral video—counting to 100,000, a 40-hour ordeal that he edited to fit under 24 hours.
Subsequently, Donaldson gained popularity through increasingly ambitious stunts: attempting to break glass using megaphones, watching paint dry for an hour, and staying underwater for 24 hours. By 2018, he had given away $1 million through his stunts, earning him the title “YouTube’s biggest philanthropist”. Notably, during the PewDiePie vs. T-Series subscriber battle, Donaldson supported Kjellberg by purchasing billboards and advertisements.
Content Evolution: Comedy vs High-Production Stunts
The contrast in content evolution between these creators is striking. Gradually, PewDiePie diversified from horror games to comedy shorts, vlogs, and formatted shows like Meme Review and LWIAY. His humor evolved to become drier, which younger viewers often didn’t understand.
Conversely, MrBeast transformed YouTube entertainment through meticulously engineered spectacles. His content falls into three categories: stunt videos, “junklord” videos (using products unusually), and his trademark giveaways. His production values visibly improved around 2019, and by 2021, his recreation of Squid Game with 456 participants competing for $456,000 became one of YouTube’s most-watched videos of 2021, garnering over 130 million views in just one week.
Ultimately, their journeys represent two distinct approaches to YouTube success—PewDiePie as the pioneering solo creator versus MrBeast’s business-minded production powerhouse.
Read more: Victor Wembanyama’s Salary 2025
Subscribers and Popularity Metrics
Image Source: YouTube
Subscribers and Popularity Metrics
In the numbers game of YouTube, the subscriber gap between these platform giants tells a striking story.
Who Has More Subscribers in 2025?
As of July 2025, MrBeast stands as the undisputed king of YouTube with an extraordinary 413 million subscribers, making him the only creator to surpass both the 300 million and 400 million subscriber milestones. PewDiePie, once YouTube’s most subscribed individual creator, currently holds approximately 110 million subscribers, ranking him 10th among global YouTube channels. This dramatic difference represents a complete reversal from their earlier positions when PewDiePie led the platform for years until November 2022, when MrBeast finally surpassed him.
View Count Comparison: Average Views per Video
Beyond subscriber counts, the engagement disparity is even more pronounced. MrBeast consistently garners over 100 million views per video, with most new uploads easily passing this threshold. In stark contrast, PewDiePie’s videos typically receive between 1 to 2 million views each, despite his substantial subscriber base. This engagement gap reflects fundamentally different audience relationships – MrBeast maintains a 3.23% engagement rate compared to PewDiePie’s higher 5.82% rate on a much smaller viewer base.
Social Media Reach: Instagram, X, and Beyond
The influence gap extends across platforms. On Instagram, MrBeast commands 63 million followers versus PewDiePie’s 20 million. On X (formerly Twitter), the difference is even more substantial – MrBeast maintains 31 million followers while PewDiePie has just 515K, though he remains largely inactive on this platform.
Most Viewed Videos: $456K Squid Game vs LEVEL 7
Their most successful videos highlight their different approaches. MrBeast’s recreation of Netflix’s Squid Game has accumulated a staggering 687 million views, after costing over $3.5 million to produce. Simultaneously, PewDiePie’s most popular video, “LEVEL 7 | I’M NOT CRAZY,” has reached 133 million views, less than one-fifth of MrBeast’s top performer.
Revenue Streams and Business Ventures
Image Source: Business Insider
Revenue Streams and Business Ventures
Beyond subscriber counts, the financial empires of these YouTube titans reveal dramatically different approaches to monetization.
YouTube Ad Revenue and Sponsorships
The revenue gap between these creators is substantial. MrBeast generates an estimated $3 million in monthly YouTube ad revenue, leveraging his massive viewership across multiple channels. Additionally, his team creates sophisticated pitch decks for major brands like Ford, GM, and Walmart, highlighting his reach to “the next generation” who “are not watching TV”.
In contrast, PewDiePie earns approximately $20,000 monthly from his videos, which average 3-5 million views each. Nevertheless, he commands up to $450,000 per sponsored video, demonstrating his enduring brand value.
Merchandise and Brand Collaborations
Surprisingly, PewDiePie dominates in merchandise revenue, generating an estimated $6.83 million, making him YouTube’s top merchandise earner. MrBeast’s merchandise generates around $504,210, as his business focus lies elsewhere.
Both creators maintain extensive brand partnerships. MrBeast’s portfolio includes collaborations with Walmart, Microsoft, PayPal, and Mattel, whereas PewDiePie focuses on limited, high-value partnerships.
MrBeast Burger, Feastables, and Amazon Deal
MrBeast’s business empire extends far beyond YouTube. His ventures include:
- Feastables: His chocolate brand generated $215 million in 2024, with plans to expand into milk and ice cream
- MrBeast Burger: Part of his food empire that collectively generates $500-700 million annually
- Amazon’s Beast Games: A $100 million deal for his competition show
- MrBeast Lab: His toy business that drove $65 million in sales within six months
Collectively, Beast Industries generated $473 million last year, with projections to double in 2025.
PewDiePie’s Book Deals and Limited Merch Drops
Conversely, PewDiePie has pursued a more selective business strategy. His ventures include book publishing—most notably “This Book Loves You”—along with limited merchandise drops that create scarcity and demand. His approach prioritizes quality over quantity, focusing on video game development partnerships and exclusive merchandise collaborations rather than building a diversified business empire.
Net Worth and Financial Standing in 2025
Image Source: Navid Moazzez
Net Worth and Financial Standing in 2025
The financial portrait of YouTube’s biggest stars reveals a staggering wealth disparity that has grown over time.
MrBeast Net Worth: $500M to $1B Estimates
Jimmy Donaldson’s empire has reached unprecedented heights, with estimates placing his net worth between $500 million and $1 billion in 2025. Forbes has openly speculated that MrBeast could become “the first YouTube billionaire” by valuation. This astronomical figure stems from his diversified business portfolio that collectively generates $500-700 million in annual revenue. Furthermore, court documents related to MrBeast Burger predicted a $700 million revenue for 2024 alone. Importantly, Donaldson reinvests the majority of his earnings back into creating even bigger videos.
PewDiePie Net Worth: $40M to $54M Range
Felix Kjellberg’s wealth, although substantial, pales in comparison. His net worth falls between $40 million and $54 million, with most reliable sources placing it around $45 million. Despite scaling back his content production, he maintains this impressive financial standing through strategic business decisions and long-term investments. Specifically, his semi-retirement approach has allowed him to maintain wealth while reducing his workload.
Monthly and Annual Income Breakdown
At this point, MrBeast’s monthly earnings range from $3-5 million through YouTube ad revenue, with brands willing to pay between $2.5-3 million for simple shoutouts. SocialBlade estimates place his monthly income between $659,000 and $10.5 million.
Alternatively, PewDiePie earns approximately $4.85 million monthly from various revenue streams, totaling around $58.2 million annually. His YouTube views alone generate roughly $2 million monthly, based on $2-5 per 1,000 views, though his current estimates suggest $500,000-$1 million monthly.
Who is Richer: MrBeast or PewDiePie?
Given these points, the answer is unequivocal—MrBeast significantly outpaces PewDiePie in wealth accumulation. The financial gap has widened dramatically, with MrBeast potentially worth 20 times more than his Swedish counterpart. Markedly, both creators have demonstrated philanthropy alongside wealth-building: PewDiePie donated over $1.5 million to various charities between 2020-2021, while MrBeast’s charitable stunts have become central to his brand identity.
Comparison Table
| Metric | MrBeast | PewDiePie |
|---|---|---|
| Subscribers (2025) | 413 million | 110 million |
| Net Worth (2025) | $500M – $1B | $40M – $54M |
| Monthly Ad Revenue | $3-5 million | $20,000 |
| Average Views per Video | 100+ million | 1-2 million |
| Most Viewed Video | 687 million (Squid Game) | 133 million (LEVEL 7) |
| Instagram Followers | 63 million | 20 million |
| X (Twitter) Followers | 31 million | 515K |
| Merchandise Revenue | $504,210 | $6.83 million |
| Sponsored Post Rate | $2.5-3 million | Up to $450,000 |
| Major Business Ventures | • MrBeast Burger • Feastables • Beast Games • MrBeast Lab | • Book Deals • Limited Merch Drops • Gaming Partnerships |
| Annual Revenue (2024) | $500-700 million | $58.2 million |
| Channel Start Date | 2012 | 2010 |
Conclusion
The financial comparison between MrBeast and PewDiePie clearly demonstrates a seismic shift in YouTube’s economic landscape. Throughout this analysis, we’ve seen how Jimmy Donaldson transformed from an obscure creator with just 30,000 subscribers in 2016 to YouTube’s first billionaire. Meanwhile, Felix Kjellberg, though still tremendously successful with a net worth between $40-54 million, finds himself significantly outpaced financially.
This wealth disparity stems primarily from their contrasting business philosophies. MrBeast built a diversified empire spanning chocolate bars, burgers, toys, and massive production deals, generating $500-700 million annually. PewDiePie, however, opted for a more selective approach with book deals and limited merchandise drops, prioritizing personal freedom over empire-building.
Subscriber counts tell only part of the story. Despite MrBeast’s 413 million followers dwarfing PewDiePie’s 110 million, the engagement metrics reveal an even wider gap. MrBeast consistently pulls 100+ million views per video, essentially reaching an audience equivalent to the Super Bowl with each upload. PewDiePie’s 1-2 million views per video, though impressive by normal standards, pale in comparison.
Social media presence further widens this divide. MrBeast commands 63 million Instagram followers and 31 million on X, creating a multi-platform juggernaut that amplifies his reach beyond YouTube. PewDiePie maintains a more modest but still substantial following with 20 million Instagram followers.
Both creators ultimately represent different eras of YouTube success. PewDiePie pioneered the path for individual creators to achieve fame and fortune through authentic personality-driven content. MrBeast, conversely, evolved the platform into corporate-scale entertainment, blending philanthropy with spectacle to create a business behemoth worth potentially 20 times more than his predecessor.
The answer to “who’s worth more” unquestionably favors MrBeast by an extraordinary margin. Yet both creators have achieved what seemed impossible a decade ago – turning YouTube videos into generational wealth. Their divergent paths remind us success comes in different forms, though undoubtedly, MrBeast’s approach has proven financially superior in today’s digital landscape.