MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) started his YouTube channel on February 19, 2012, when he was 13 years old.

When did MrBeast start YouTube?

MrBeast created his main YouTube channel, MrBeast , on February 19, 2012. At the time, he was a 13‑year‑old kid posting simple gaming videos from North Carolina, long before the massive challenge videos and giveaways he’s known for today.

Early days on YouTube

  • Channel created: February 19, 2012.
  • His age then: 13 years old.
  • Early content: Let’s Plays and clips of games like Minecraft and Call of Duty, plus commentary about other YouTubers.
  • Growth was very slow at first, with low views and basic thumbnails, and he experimented a lot before finding his signature style years later.

Over time, his content evolved from low‑budget gaming uploads into large‑scale challenges, stunts, and philanthropic videos, especially after his first big viral stunt in 2017, where he filmed himself counting to 100,000.

Mini timeline

  1. 2012 – Channel launch
    • Starts the “MrBeast” channel on February 19, 2012, mainly with gaming videos.
  1. 2013–2016 – Experiment phase
    • Tries different video ideas, including gaming, commentary, and “worst intros” type content, slowly learning what works on YouTube.
  1. 2017 – Breakout moment
    • Posts the now‑famous counting‑to‑100,000 video, which becomes his first major viral hit and kicks off his rise into mainstream YouTube popularity.

Quick FAQ on “when did MrBeast start YouTube”

  • What year did MrBeast start YouTube?
    • He started in 2012.
  • What exact date did he create his channel?
    • February 19, 2012.
  • Was he already doing big money challenge videos then?
    • No, those came years later; his early uploads were simple gaming and commentary videos.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.