The Unexpected and Controversial Rise of MrBeast to YouTube Superstardom

In 2017, MrBeast began a new subgenre of his YouTube channel, in which he performed bizarre stunts for the purpose of attracting more viewers. His first viral video stunt involved a very basic premise: recording himself counting from one to one hundred thousand over the course of 24 hours. More than 40 hours went into filming the video, which was then sped up to 24 hours.

The following month, he released another video called “Counting to 200,000 (Road to a Mil).” In other videos from around the same time, he tried and failed to stay underwater and to spin a fidget spinner for 24 hours straight.