Donaldson is an investor in the tech startup Backbone, which produces the Backbone One, a
controller that makes smartphones appear more similar to Nintendo Switch controllers, and the
Backbone app, a content creation and social tools app for its users. [79][80]
In March 2021, Donaldson partnered with Creative Juice financial network to introduce Juice
Funds, a $2 million investment fund for content creators. [81][82]
In April 2021, Donaldson became a long-term investor and partner of financial
technology company Current.[83][84] The same month, Donaldson received backlash after fans lost
large amounts of money in a cryptocurrency scheme that Donaldson had invested in and
promoted.[82]
Philanthropy
Team Trees
Team Trees
Main article: Team Trees
On October 25, 2019, Donaldson and former NASA engineer and YouTuber Mark
Rober organized a collaborative fundraising challenge event on YouTube called #TeamTrees.
The goal of this project was to raise $20 million for the Arbor Day Foundation by January 1,
2020, and plant trees "no later than December 2022." Every donation goes to the Arbor Day
Foundation, which pledges to plant one tree for every dollar donated. Notable YouTubers such
as Rhett & Link, Marshmello, iJustine, Marques Brownlee, The Slow Mo Guys, Ninja, Simone
Giertz, Jacksepticeye, and Smarter Every Day brought attention to this idea. Trees began to be
planted in October 2019 in national parks of the United States.[85][86] On December 19 of that year,
the $20,000,000 goal was surpassed,.[87] So far[when?] Team Trees has planted 9 million trees
across the globe and are expected to finish in 2022. [88] The project has also received large
donations from corporate executives Jack Dorsey, Susan Wojcicki, Elon Musk,[89] and Tobias
Lütke.[90] Companies such as Discovery, Verizon and Plants vs. Zombies have also contributed.[91]
As of July 19, 2022, they have received over $23.89 million in donations which equates to 23.89
million trees planted. As of July 19, 2022, they need to plant 4 million more trees to achieve this
number.[92]
Beast Philanthropy
On September 17, 2020, the YouTube channel Beast Philanthropy was created. [93] On the
channel's first video, Donaldson announced the charity and food bank and named Darren, who
had appeared in previous videos, as executive director. [94] According to the channel description,
100% of its advertising revenue, brand deals, and merchandise sales are donated to charity. [93]
Team Seas
Main article: Team Seas
Team Seas
On October 29, 2021, Donaldson and Rober organized another collaborative challenge event on
YouTube titled #TeamSeas. The goal of this project was to raise $30 million for the Ocean
Conservancy and The Ocean Cleanup by January 1, 2022. The $30 million goal would fund the
removal of 30 million pounds of plastic and other waste from oceans, rivers, and beaches.
Donaldson and Rober enlisted thousands of content creators, including
AzzyLand, DanTDM, TommyInnit, LinusTechTips, TierZoo, LEMMiNO, The Infographics
Show, Hannah Stocking, Dhar Mann and Marques Brownlee, and partnered with BEN and
TubeBuddy's initiative of 8 million global creators, to promote the fundraiser. [95][96][97]
Public image
Opinion polls have shown that Donaldson is one of the most well-liked YouTubers on the
platform. A 2021 SurveyMonkey poll showed that 70% of respondents have a favorable view of
him, compared to 12% who had an unfavorable view. [98]
During a Clubhouse room in February 2021, Donaldson booted entrepreneur Farokh Sarmad
after he said he could not pronounce his name, a move that Sarmad later said was racist.
Sarmad's claims were questioned and denied by other Clubhouse users who were present at the
call who argued against Sarmad's claims, claiming that MrBeast removed him along with others
to make room for women on the stage to be more inclusive.[99][100]
In a May 2021 New York Times article, Matt Turner, an editor for Donaldson from February 2018
to September 2019, claimed that Donaldson berated him almost daily, including calling him
a retard. Turner also reported that he was regularly not credited for his work.[82] Reporting
by Insider showed that Turner previously posted a video in 2018 explaining his allegations, and
in October 2019 released a deleted Twitter thread which stated that he was "yelled at, bullied,
called mentally retarded and replaceable by MrBeast every single day." [101]
Nate Anderson quit after working for Donaldson for a week in 2018 over what he said were
unreasonable demands and called Donaldson a perfectionist. After releasing a video describing
his experience, Anderson reportedly received death threats from MrBeast's fans. Nine other
employees who worked for Donaldson also stated that while Donaldson was sometimes
generous, his demeanour would change when cameras were off. They described a difficult work
environment while working under him.[82][101]
