Jimmy Donaldson, the 27-year-old mastermind behind MrBeast, is having a blockbuster December. On Wednesday he takes the stage at The New York Times DealBook Summit alongside Beast Industries CEO Jeff Housenbold, then gears up for a high-profile sit-down with David Letterman premiering December 16 on Netflix. Yet amid the corporate spotlight and Hollywood glow, fellow streaming star xQc just dropped an unexpected revelation: the real Jimmy Donaldson is even more authentic when the cameras stop rolling.
Speaking on his December 2 stream, Canadian streamer Félix “xQc” Lengyel described hanging out with Donaldson and Adin Ross and noticing a stark difference from the hyper-energetic YouTube persona fans know. “He’s way more real off-camera,” xQc said, explaining that Donaldson deliberately amplifies his on-screen energy for entertainment value while keeping his private personality grounded and relatable. The streamer stressed that going completely unfiltered in videos could spark unnecessary controversy or even put jobs at risk inside the massive MrBeast operation.
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The timing of xQc’s comments adds a fascinating layer to Donaldson’s packed schedule. Today at the DealBook Summit in New York, the creator-turned-mogul will discuss the future of philanthropy and digital business with some of the world’s most powerful leaders. His inclusion on a lineup typically reserved for CEOs and policymakers underscores how far the North Carolina native has come since uploading his first video in 2012.
Just two weeks later, Netflix viewers will see a different side of Donaldson when Season 6 of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman drops. The episode, filmed as part of a star-studded lineup that includes Michael B. Jordan and Jason Bateman, follows a standalone MrBeast special that aired December 1. Industry watchers say the Letterman appearance cements Donaldson’s transition from YouTube phenomenon to mainstream media fixture.
Friends and collaborators have long described Donaldson as intensely focused yet genuinely kind in person, traits that apparently shine brightest away from the algorithm. As one of the most-watched creators on the planet, his ability to stay approachable while running a hundred-million-dollar empire continues to fuel both his success and his growing influence across entertainment and business.