MrBeast earned $250,000 by putting Elon Musk’s theory to the test

Influencer MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, announced on X that he earned over $250,000 from a single video posted on the platform. This revelation highlights the potential earnings for major internet personalities through X’s ad revenue sharing program. X, owned by Elon Musk, initiated the program in July, allowing creators to receive a share of the revenue generated by ads displayed in replies to high-performing content, provided they subscribe to X’s premium service. The move aimed to attract creators and advertisers to X, aligning it with other social media platforms like Meta, YouTube, and TikTok that compensate creators for their content and ad revenue.

MrBeast initially expressed reservations about regularly posting videos on X, citing the high production costs of his content. However, he decided to test X’s ad revenue sharing program by sharing an old video about trying expensive cars. The video garnered over 160 million views on X. Following his significant earnings, MrBeast stated he planned to give away the money to 10 randomly chosen individuals who reposted his announcement and followed him on X. While his payout suggests meaningful earnings for creators on X, MrBeast cautioned that other creators might not have the same experience, noting that his revenue per view could be higher due to advertiser attention and engagement from his substantial audience.

The disclosure of MrBeast’s earnings sparked some controversy, with former law enforcement officer and political commentator Dan Bongino criticizing X’s payout system. Bongino, who was banned from YouTube for sharing COVID-19 misinformation, posted a screenshot showing he received only $379 from X, referring to MrBeast’s payout as “shady.” Critics have raised concerns that X’s creator program may incentivize inflammatory or offensive content, as premium subscribers receive additional boosts from the platform’s algorithm. A user praising Adolf Hitler reportedly received around $3,000 from X’s ad revenue sharing program, leading to further scrutiny and debates about the platform’s policies.