The world’s most popular YouTuber, MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), has turned down Elon Musk’s request to upload his content directly on X, Musk’s social media platform. MrBeast, who boasts over 224 million subscribers on YouTube, rejected the offer, stating that X wouldn’t generate even a fraction of the revenue he earns from YouTube, owned by Google.
In a public exchange on X, Musk urged MrBeast to upload on the platform, aiming to make X an “everything app” similar to China’s WeChat. However, MrBeast responded by highlighting the significant cost of producing his videos, emphasizing that X’s monetization wouldn’t be sufficient to fund his content.
Yeah
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 30, 2023
My videos cost millions to make and even if they got a billion views on X it wouldn’t fund a fraction of it :/
I’m down though to test stuff once monetization is really cranking!
— MrBeast (@MrBeast) December 30, 2023
YouTube creators in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) can earn between $3,400 and $30,000 per 1 million video views. MrBeast’s latest video, “I Spent 7 Days In Solitary Confinement,” garnered nearly 54 million views in one day.
Monetization Challenges on X
While YouTube creators benefit from ad revenue and the YPP, X operates on a different model, generating money through engagement and advertising revenue for verified accounts with the premium subscription option. However, estimates suggest that creators on X receive only $7 per 1 million impressions.
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X, formerly known as Twitter, has faced challenges with its ad revenue-sharing program. Creators have reported varying payouts, with some expressing dissatisfaction with the platform’s financial returns. Musk’s push for ad-sponsored video on X is seen as an attempt to diversify revenue streams.
MrBeast’s Stance and Musk’s Ambitions
This is the second time in six months that MrBeast rejected Musk’s invitation to join X. The YouTuber emphasized the need for X’s monetization to be more robust before considering uploading content on the platform.
MrBeast, known for high-budget videos, has consistently topped earnings among social media creators. His net worth is estimated at $500 million, and in 2022, he earned $54 million, with a significant portion coming from ads.
Elon Musk, who acquired X in October 2022, envisions transforming the platform and competing with YouTube. However, the exchange with MrBeast highlights the financial disconnect between X’s current reality and Musk’s ambitious goals for the platform. Despite the rejection, MrBeast expressed openness to testing X once its monetization becomes more robust.