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MrBeast on Cracking the Attention Economy
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- Published on Feb 11, 2026
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More from The New York Times Video: nytimes.com/video
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MrBeast has redefined what it means to be a content creator, turning viral videos into a multibillion-dollar enterprise. From philanthropy to brand strategy, the team behind MrBeast navigates the opportunities and responsibilities that come with massive digital influence. Hear how Jimmy Donaldson and C.E.O. of Beast Industries Jeff Housenbold think about growth, creativity and shaping the future of entertainment - and philanthropy - in the attention economy.
Guests: Jimmy Donaldson, MrBeast, Creator, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist; Jeff Housenbold, C.E.O. of Beast Industries
Interviewer: Andrew Ross Sorkin, Founder and Editor at Large of DealBook
The difference between how Jimmy talks and the CEO talks is so obvious and hilarious when they sit next to each other. Corporate speak is so terrible lol
You can see jimmy visibly cringe everytime Jeff talks, it’s so funny. He’s going to have a tough post-talk talk.
The CEO has an education, Jimmy is a youtuber who only went to high school, that's the difference
@UnsaltedCashew38sorry but wtf? Jimmy built an empire in a space no one has before. There are dime a dozen “professional CEOs”, they’re not the same.
@N@Nashadelicablee CEO is what holding the company together lol
@ayomax7813jimmy did just fine, the ceo has it super easy. Try again.
We need someone that actually consumes his content on the regular to interview him
Who? Bunch of 6 year olds?
@Bobzanger3444bunch or 25-35 years old
What? Sorkin is a fantastic interviewer, one of the best. Jimmy even remarked multiple times on the unusually high quality of questions.
im 13 and i could
@Bobzanger3444 im 13
His CEO be like - Hey Jimmy, you need some lesson on public speaking 😂
so happy mrbeast doesn’t do corp speak, and the legs 😭😭
MrBeast, don't ever change! Don't ever adopt corporate speak! Keep staying real! That's why we watch you!
don’t ever change what ?
Yes.
This was literally Mrbeast being authentic and real and his little handler translating everything into linkedIn buzzwords. lmao
Mr Beast is the most fake individual in the world.
He's already changed bro
the least viewed mr beast video
The interviewer couldnt have picked longer pants
bro how did i not notice 😂
I burst out laughing after seeing it😂
Lucky he wore loooooong socks!!!
This guy runs his own show on CNBC, co-produced the hit series Billions on Showtime, has written NYTimes best selling books, and writes the daily newsletter Dealbook that most people in tech, startups and finance. But you're commenting on his socks? Embarrassing comment
@oliviae369 y u so offended lol😂😂
instead of studying for the history test, bro made a history
I loooooove this! 📌
He's answered these questions like a million times, so don't expect his body language to be so forthcoming.
PewDiePie was Jimmy's northstar back in the day
100%. & He never gives any credit to him for finally shouting him out. Mr beast would have sucked 1 million *icks for COLLAB with him. He literally paid millions for for the billboard to get pewdies attention. He is a massive simp
😂 omgsh yeah probably one of them
Yeah, he’s been surpassed a long time ago tho
Jimmy has a brilliant mind and a big vision.
The clip about his younger self was really touching.
Also, his CEO is very well spoken, calm and collected.
"Sometimes he forgets he works for me"
This is by far the smartest and most articulate Jimmy has ever appeared on camera. Makes you realize how in charge of everything he really is and how his brain works. He acts relatable on camera, but this guy billion dollar empire CEO smart.
This is the difference between someone who built something from scratch and someone who hasn't. The details Jimmy speaks on are from someone who has put years into learning through trial and error. Loved this!
What a difference from a young RUclipsr to his current development at such a young age! Impressive
That manager looks like he was in 'There Will Be Blood' and 'Jimmy' is on his lap as a side show puppet.
"For most people its 2 million views" sir most people on RUclips aren't getting 2 million views lol
I think he meant youtube celebrities, you have to read between the lines...
@max_rovebut that’s not what he said. He didn’t mention anything about celebrities.
@SimWearsPradaa that's you are right
Nice to see Jimmy in business casual attire, no tie, the common projects sneakers.. but yeah great interview. Always so neat to pick his brain, never thought I'd see him with Andrew Ross Sorkin 2 or 3 years ago
why does the interviewer keep interrupting Jimmy? let him finish
I also saw this and I felt bad
It made it almost unwatchable
Corporate talk
It was required to keep Jimmy pushing forward
All I can read was he asked, Tell me now how can I be as successful as you are tomorrow. Tell. Me. NOW
Despite some of the comments here, I really like him on this interview.
Excellent conversation guys. Thank you.
31:50 so good -- jimmy is soo honest LMAO
Any news network is always like soundbites of how fast can we sit down and ask questions and respond??
I love how Jimmy did not shrink even after the audience was laughing weirdly because they want an answer a specific way. And thats why he is successful! Lets gooo
Where's Carl, Nolan, Tariq and Chandler when u need them.
My favorite people!!!!! ❤ Ps it's Karl.
Don’t go corporate Jimmy!!
Far too late. :/ Also, did you hear the CEO? They're now looking to "monetize your trust", ie start soaking you for cash instead of making good content.
he did long ago
They are planning an IPO... so have to do interviews like this for the suits.
Do you not see the ceo of his billion dollar company on stage?
Ask Jimmy about what he thinks of the Stanford prison experiment…
That sidekick plays a hilariously great caricature of a CEO 😂
I think I will start up a podcast to interview nobody's also😂
I wish they talked more about the IPO
Who knew me beast watches kurgazet
Kurzgesagt
Providing even more service and love to people across our planet sounds miraculous to me. Thank you Jimmy and all involved!
I never knew Jimmy had a CEO he looks up to for guidance to run Beast Industries effectively. tbh I thought that Jimmy came up with the ideas b himself or the 300 or so team he has working for him
The CEO came on in the last year, Jimmy was in charge for the majority of companies growth.
@Last220 oh ok
That happened directly due to the dog pack videos
12:06 oh my heck, he snuck it in😭😭😂
Good and entertaining interview. He is incredible.
Glad to see Jimmy growing up and figuring out how to become a business magnate. Can't wait to see what it does in ten years
Instead of studying for history bro went out to create history of his own.
thanks for sharing, times have changed and youtubers are becoming billionaires
A lot of interesting questions
I really like the way he interviewed Jimmy, you see how he started with kind of soft questions and ended up in a soft and funny way? Leading the interview to not feel like interrogation but more as a conversation, and talking about MR BEAST? Jimmy is Gold, such an inspiration, only GOD knows what you passed though, Thank you so much for not giving up
Pelt from junior RUclips er Best tanks you Ethiopia people 🇪🇹
What a great talk, Jimmy really changed RUclips landscape, 🤟🤟🤟
Jimmy is Exceptional Founder
@mrbeast 18:28 almost sound like I'm hearing lee trink talking about the faze clan situation... watch out brother.
No way this guy is both Mike Ross and Rick sorkin in New York. He has to have inspired suits in some way
Jeff compliments Jimmy so well 😁 and Jimmy was so smart to get him onboard
The guy asking the questions really knows his stuff about Everything Mrbeast!!! 💯
I’m a big fan of “make the kindness viral”. keep pushing and keep raising the bar on how to take on social issues.
Jimmy is so much smarter and more articulate than the vanilla CEO
Love the legend since always made someone's day and changed many lives hope those lucky ones meet the legend beast
16:13 Kurzgesagt!
I'm finding this interview extremely interesting, but I'm having trouble staying with it solely because the interviewer keeps cutting Jimmy off.
This is not a long form podcast. The interviewer has a list of questions he needs to get through despite what the interviewee says or wants to say. That's called legacy media.
there is a lot of greedy and bad people unhappy with what jimmy does!
I find these interviews as ways for these people to know how to bring him down!
do not let that happen! he is a beacon of goodness he has given more to the world than any of these rich greedy people will ever do in generations!
LETS GO JIMMY wishing you more successes, love your videos thanks for everything you do.
lmaoooo
Looking forward to what Jimmy and team can accomplish going forward. 🎬😎🎬
steve Bartlett in the Chat
He's crazy uncomfortable, I guess that's the thing he has to do now, being his stature, but he looks completely out of his norm.
He has aspergers
He’s acting the same way he does in every public appearance.
MrBeast just mentioned Ishowspeed and Kai Cenat on the stage. 8:32
He is young, popular and rich and that made those people around him amazed how he did it even without doing crazy non sense stuff. He may not be as good as them in public speaking but he is very natural, normal and relatable.
i think he was very articulate in his words
8:52 fantastic question!
Such a wonderful inteview
So funny to see him in this scenario but was pretty interesting to watch
I’ve never been and excellent tip about Mykonos over Santorini 💃🏻
So Where the opa lopas in Willy Wonka reimagined. Instead of children of child labor ? 🤔
He seems really genuine in his philantropic causes, unlike the altruism movemennt thingy
They lide on giveaways to share the video and never mailed the prize winners. Not rocket science.😂
Love this interview! Kids who are addicted to his contents should also know how he carries clarity and insights, and the intentionality as a creator. That would be a more balanced follower ship.
I have watched him at least since he read that dictionary. My son was telling me about him so I followed. Bought some clothes that, in small, were too big for me and gave them to my son. lol I love when he gave the house to pizza driver. He does more games, now. I am not into the games as much. I like when he randomly changes a person life (like giving them a house). Eitherway, being from Canada, we won't get cars or houses ect. :P
Loved the interview and love the change Mr Beast is making
20:57 a phone you say..
Best interview incomparable
Best interview ever … love it
Jimmy understands RUclips like nobody else.
Such stories make it hard not to believe in fate...it is like for some people things are just destined to happen. But then, others have done the same thing of planning into the future, it never worked, we do not know them so we think it works for all those who plan because we know all those that become do it and become known....
Really enjoyed this ❤
why'd they bring Jeff on
I think it is good for Jimmy to get more exposure to a crowd outside of his bubble. I think he could benefit from it.
12:42 this is with EVERYTHING… that’s like saying movies will die out, movies will never die out just like RUclips content won’t. I do think we will get burn out for some topics but that’s it
The channel is running a masterclass on capturing human expression.
Jimmy is a manifestation of our times - a true modern genius in the new hive mind mentality
12:05 bro can't stop clip farming
Minecraft videos sometimes huh
Where is Larry Fink vs Brian Armstrong video??!!
ruclips.net/video/HeFwIsrtgVQ/video.html
the tragedy of all this is that we won't be allowed to discuss how inhumane and sad this all is until an AI starts doing it to us as well.
Quite an inspiring interview, making kindness viral to make the world a better place is a great mission and purpose! 💖🌎
Love this juxtaposition, NYT. Fun watch.
It's been a long time coming.
Those pants dude 😭
Hyped for Beast Games Season 2
Jimmy should have his own Video Platform like RUclips. What do you think Guys...?😊
21:29 that is the dumbest question to ask after the CEO described the four pillars of the business wow. i never listened to sorkin before i am amazed
he looks like Charlie Kirk
Mr Beast - “WHYD YOU SMASH THAT”
Bros teeth are literally perfectly straight, dentists are getting a fortune..
Not a lot of people notices his teeth 😂😅
They’re veneers
So over $5 billion for content or Jimmy?
32:26 This CEO makes people laugh
Are they going to speak about the investment tom Lee made as ceo of bitmine immersion technologies. ( BMNR) stock symbol? I hope so.
25:12 the hyperbole taking about the chocolate company is crazy. He partnered with Tony’s open chain (by Tony’s choclonley; a company I wrote my thesis on). The have the support network, mgmt beast is just getting chocolate off their contacts. Also he kind of made it out to be that he saw the problem and wanted a solution, when that was the origin story of Tony’s. The founder was a reporter that didn’t get an answer by the big company’s in the space (like nestle) on why they have Child Labour in their supply’s. Read up on it, very interesting story
to be fair, he voiced the problem through his massive platform which tony's chocolate failed to do at the same scale of jimmy. If you were to PARTNER up with someone, you would SHARE the same goal. I think you're nitpicking your argument and claiming that jimmy's hyperbole is completely invalid, because someone thought about it first. Jimmy was original identifying the problem and echoing it through his expertise(virality), which was the entire point of this interview. Therefore, the hyperbole is justified.
That initial applause was as stuffy and weak as that crowd 😂 Don’t ever try to fit in that box, Jimmy
5 star content, thx. My motto. always be nice, always do your best.