A leaked document has laid out YouTube star MrBeast’s formula for success – which includes “obsessive” workers, an emphasis on the “wow factor” and his philosophy that “the more extreme the better.”
Jimmy Donaldson – the 26-year-old face of YouTube’s most-subscribed channel MrBeast – seemingly pushed a work environment reminiscent of more traditional tech giants like Amazon and Apple focused on “obsessive” staffers.
In a leaked memo circulating on X that Business Insider verified with two former MrBeast staffers, Donaldson classifies employees as A-Players, B-Players and the dreaded C-Players.
“There is only room in this company for A-Players,” Donaldson wrote in the memo. “A-Players are obsessive, learn from mistakes, coachable, intelligent, don’t make excuses, believe in YouTube, see the value of this company, and are the best in the goddamn world at their job.”
B-Players are “new people that need to be trained into A-Players,” Donaldson wrote.
C-Players – otherwise known as “average” employees – are “poisonous” and should be “transitioned” elsewhere immediately, the YouTube celeb wrote.
MrBeast did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Donaldson, whose MrBeast’s main channel boasts more than 317 million subscribers, told Time magazine in February he rakes in about $700 million a year in revenue from his multiple businesses, including spinoff YouTube accounts like a gaming channel and his Feastables snack brand.
Donaldson seems to employ a “money talks” philosophy, telling employees if they read the entire guide and “pass a quiz” he will give them $1,000.
Donaldson drops tips through the 36-page guide, like “the more extreme the better” and “the first minute of each video is the most important minute of each video.”
He emphasizes the importance of the “wow factor,” or something his channel can do that “no other youtuber can do” – like moving a house via crane on video.
The YouTube boss also said he would rather his employees be “honest” with one another than “nice.”
“I don’t care just don’t leave room for error,” he wrote in the leaked memo. “No excuses, stop leaving room for error.”
Donaldson also gives advice for employees seeking promotions, telling them they simply need to make their intentions clear.
Their manager “will give you a list of things that you need to improve to become what we need and if you actually listen and master those things, we will give you a shot at the role,” he wrote.
Another former staffer told Business Insider that several points from the memo — including the review process for promotions — differed from their experience working at MrBeast.
Donaldson is clear on his belief that YouTube is the future of video, telling employees to watch as much YouTube as possible and “get rid of Netflix and Hulu.”
“This is not Hollywood and I do not want to be Hollywood,” Donaldson wrote. “If that sentence is a turn off to you then you’re probably at the wrong job.”
“I genuinely mean that. Youtube is the future and I believe with every fiber of my body it’s going to keep growing year over year and in 5 years Youtube will be bigger than anyone will have ever imagined and I want this channel to be at the top.”
Donaldson nods to the MrBeast persona in the memo. The YouTube channel has a majority male audience and is known for extreme challenges, gaming videos and boyish humor.
“It’s okay for the boys to be childish. If talent wants to draw a dick on the white board in the video or do something stupid, let them,” Donaldson wrote in the memo.
“People like when we are in our natural element of stupidity. Really do everything you can to empower the boys when filming and help them make content. Help them be idiots.”
At times, the MrBeast brand has come under fire for its extreme videos and inappropriate language.
Most recently, a class action lawsuit filed last week accused Donaldson, his production company and Amazon of sexual harassment and mistreatment regarding contestants in the upcoming “Beast Games” reality competition show.
Participants in the game show – which promised a $5 million prize for the winner – told The New York Times they did not receive adequate food or medical care while filming the first installment of the series for MrBeast’s channel.
Prior to signing contracts, several contestants were asked whether they would be willing to be buried alive or travel to outer space for the show, according to The New York Times.
One contestant said she was asked if she would be able to swim from shore if she was thrown overboard from a boat, the report said.
