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Despite his $2.6 billion net worth, MrBeast said he’s had to borrow cash and didn’t even have enough money in his bank account
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Some successful entrepreneurs sitting atop billion-dollar businesses say they may look rich on paper, but take a peek into their bank accounts, and they’re cash poor.
Key facts
- The 28-year-old entrepreneur has said he keeps less than $1 million for himself, despite being a billionaire and owning more than half of his $5 billion company Beast Industries
- Lucy Guo, the cofounder of $29 million company Scale AI, isn’t keen to spend the $1.3 billion stake she has in the business
- Forbes has also estimated his annual earnings reached $85 million between April 2024 and April 2025, a far cry from the typical American salary of $64,220 a year
- A version of this story was published on Fortune.com on January 13, 2026
Summary
“The reporter is borrowing money. The 28-year-old entrepreneur has said he keeps less than $1 million for himself, despite being a billionaire and owning more than half of his $5 billion company Beast Industries. Through his assets, Donaldson is projected to be worth at least $2.6 billion—although he emphasized it’s not a fat wad of cash burning a hole in his pocket. “It’s funny talking about my personal finances, because no one ever believes anything I say,” Donaldson explained.