MrBeast and the art of a memeable ad

With a simple yet genius concept, MrBeast’s latest Feastables promo has amassed a staggering 290 million organic views. But what makes it so effective? Creative Moment investigates...

A meme’s true success is measured when the original is buried beneath a flood of parodies. And MrBeast has cracked the code yet again with his latest viral hit.

His newest Feastables ad follows a tried-and-true formula: keep it simple. The video’s core premise? Someone runs while holding a chocolate bar, only for it to keep growing to absurd proportions.

The humour lies in the sheer ridiculousness of it all. There’s no setup, no explanation, just pure visual comedy that keeps viewers hooked.

Like classic silent-era slapstick, à la Charlie Chaplin or the odyssey of the Mr. Bean phenomenon, the ad transcends language barriers, making it universally appealing.

Organic reach

For most brands, MrBeast would be a prohibitively expensive ambassador. Yet his organic reach delivers eye-watering results. Industry estimates suggest that achieving this level of exposure through paid advertising would have cost upwards of $4 million.

But this is just a fraction of the bigger picture.

Beast Mode

Beyond viral stunts and extravagant giveaways, MrBeast is setting his sights on building a consumer product empire. Leaked financial documents obtained by The Verge reveal that his company, Beast Industries, is actively seeking $200m in funding: a move that could push its valuation past $5bn.

With 372 million YouTube subscribers, his snack brand Feastables is already generating revenue comparable to his core video business. Projections indicate that Feastables could surpass his YouTube earnings as early as this year.

The expansion plans don’t stop there. The pitch deck outlines a bold push into consumer packaged goods, including beverages, snacks, and cereals. A mobile gaming division is also in development, with a launch targeted for next year. There’s even talk of a potential IPO in the near future.

However, despite the staggering potential, Beast Industries is not yet profitable. Reports suggest the company has incurred losses of approximately $200m in recent years, largely due to the high-cost, high-reward nature of MrBeast’s signature content.

Still, if his track record is anything to go by, turning viral influence into a multi-billion-dollar business might just be his greatest stunt yet.