Who Makes More? Judge Judy Or Mr. Beast?

Old media is dead! Online platforms help content creators to bypass legacy gatekeepers, giving the average person a shot at fame and fortune.

You’ve undoubtedly heard these sentiments before.

Which is why I want to test these claims. And I’m doing so by comparing Mr. Beast, YouTube’s biggest star, to Judge Judy, host of a daytime TV show about small claims court.

How Much Is Mr. Beast Worth?

Jimmy Donaldson, better know as Mr. Beast, is the most-subscribed individual on YouTube. He’s known for extravagant and expensive stunts, charitable acts, and creating elaborate contests. And he also owns the MrBeast Burger fast-food chain.

Mr. Beast is said to have a net worth of around $105 million. And, is estimated to have an annual income of $54 million.

As someone who makes YouTube videos, I want to mention that estimating ad revenue and sponsorship deals is extremely difficult. Most sites like Social Blade do a terrible job collecting realistic data, and give every view equal weighting.

How YouTube Ad Revenue Actually Works

YouTubers are very “cloak and dagger” with their revenue numbers.

I’m not.

So I will share the actual metrics from my broad-brush, viral entertainment YouTube channel.

20% of my YouTube traffic comes from the United States of America.

Yet, the United States makes up 60% of my total ad revenue.

Brazil, India, and Russia individually make up 5% of my traffic. Combined, they’re 15% of the total viewership.

Yet, these three countries contribute less than 2% to my total ad revenue.

On an entertainment channel, like Mr. Beast’s, ad revenue is generally $1 — $2 per thousand views, from high ad rate countries. This means the United States, Canada, parts of Europe, and a few Asian countries like South Korea and Japan.

Because broad-brush entertainment content is designed for everyone, a significant percentage of viewers come from lower ad rate countries.