What Beast Games Means for Creators

Summary

Podcast Summary: The GaryVee Audio Experience – "What Beast Games Means for Creators"

Host: Gary Vaynerchuk
Date: January 22, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Gary Vaynerchuk dives deep into the phenomenon of “Beast Games” and how MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) represents a new era of creator-led empires. Gary unpacks what Beast Games means not just for the entertainment industry, but for anyone looking to build something significant from the ground up. He discusses the evolution of content creation, the rising power of individuals, the blurring of lines between creator and studio, and what the future holds for creators who are willing to "bet on themselves."

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Rise of the Individual Empire

• Gary hails MrBeast as the pinnacle example of an individual building an empire from scratch through digital content.
  • Quote: “Mr. Beast is the prime example of that. He is the example. He’s an inspiration because he did it piece of content by piece of content by piece of content.” (00:19, Gary)
• Emphasizes that this isn’t an anomaly; it’s the new blueprint for creators.
  • “He’s a preview, not the anomaly. I don’t even think Beast has even begun to actually cook.” (00:36, Gary)
• Notes the ripple effect of MrBeast’s trajectory inspiring a new generation:
  • “There’s a lot of kids dreaming right now at 13, 14, 15 because of Jimmy’s work.” (00:56, Gary)

2. From Bedroom to Empire

• Both Gary and MrBeast started humbly—Gary with Wine Library TV and MrBeast in his bedroom with few resources.
  • “There’s a video of him sitting in his room... he did it piece of content by piece of content by piece of content. And you can literally watch.” (01:59, Gary)
• The message: Regardless of resources, consistency and evolution are key.

3. Platform Evolution and Underpriced Attention

• Platforms and distribution channels have changed, but there’s always opportunity for creators who spot underpriced attention early.
  • On live streaming and social networks:
    “The live streaming ecosystem... Twitch, Kick, TikTok Live, YouTube Live... that whole world is happening. So that’s an underpriced attention place.” (02:51, Gary)
  • The importance of being “early and great” on new platforms before they become saturated.
    • “The more it gets bigger and everyone’s on it, the more you have to be great... that’s supply and demand of attention.” (03:31, Gary)

4. From Content Creator to Studio Boss

• MrBeast and other top creators now effectively run their own studios and brands—shifting power from traditional media to individuals.
  • “The creator is the studio. Mr. Beast has a studio. We have a studio. We’re a production company...” (04:04, Gary)
  • Predicts every creator will need infrastructure—consumer products, marketing, supply chain, even physical products.
  • “The individual empire is here and... you’re just gonna see it over and over and over again. And this is the beginning.” (04:34, Gary)
• Gary draws a line from his book Crush It to today:
  • “Crush it was: you can be an influencer in 2009. I wrote that. You can have a life making content on the Internet. Now I’m telling you, Beast is the preview to you can build an empire on the back of a human.” (04:44, Gary)

5. Algorithm vs. Audience

• While MrBeast is praised for understanding both the algorithm and the audience, Gary stresses the algorithm is just a reflection of audience response.
  • “The algorithm is the black and white scorecard that you made it for the audience. The algorithm is the report card... it’s for the people.” (05:23, Gary)
  • Credits MrBeast as “savant level skilled at the thumbnail.” (05:34, Gary)

6. Beast Games as a Cultural and Industry Shift

• Beast Games forced Hollywood and traditional media to recognize the legitimacy and power of creators.
  • “It made Hollywood realize it was all true... Beast Games is a lightning rod in culture. It proved to everyone that you can easily translate from here to that screen because they’re all the same screens.” (06:56, Gary)
• Notes the impact on how creators will be able to move into feature films, series, and beyond.
  • “I think you’ll see more and more creators and entrepreneur creators win in feature films, meaningful series, reality, scripted, non-scripted.” (07:33, Gary)
• Praises Amazon for giving MrBeast creative freedom:
  • “Kudos to Amazon. I don’t know the details but they clearly let Jimmy cook.” (07:09, Gary)

7. The Future of Creator Empires

• In a decade, MrBeast and Beast Games will be seen as iconic pioneers of the individual empire.
  • “Remembered for being one of the pioneers of the individual empire. A human that built an audience through what he first loved, scaled that... he’s a preview, not the anomaly.” (06:12, Gary)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On MrBeast’s Journey:
  • “At first he had five bucks to do it and then he had 5,000 bucks and then he had 50,000 bucks and that was wow on YouTube and he had 500,000 bucks and that was wow, wow. And now he’s got at the highest levels...” (00:27, Gary)
• On Creators Outgrowing Traditional Studios:
  • “Everybody’s going to have a studio. Everyone’s going to have a consumer packaged goods infrastructure, a marketing infrastructure, a supply chain infrastructure.” (04:09, Gary)
• On the Broader Movement:
  • “The individual empire is here and Beast and Bartlett and me and Alex, Cooper and Earl, and you’re just gonna see it over and over and over again.” (04:29, Gary)
• On Industry Validation:
  • “Beast Games is a lightning rod in culture. In Hollywood now, it helps people like me and everybody else that’s big on social and on the Internet.” (06:59, Gary)

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:00–01:11 — Introduction to Beast Games and MrBeast as the ultimate creator-empire builder
• 01:51–02:38 — Lessons from MrBeast’s humble beginnings (and Gary’s own)
• 02:51–03:31 — The future and importance of live streaming; underpriced attention
• 04:04–04:44 — The creator as studio; infrastructure and product lines
• 05:16–05:34 — The algorithm vs. audience debate
• 06:12–07:33 — Beast Games’ cultural impact & the future of creator-owned IP

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Final Thoughts

Gary Vee frames Beast Games as both milestone and movement—signaling to creators everywhere that the pathway from content-maker to full-fledged media empire is open and accessible. The episode is energetic, affirming, and brimming with actionable insights for anyone eager to carve their own path in the digital-first era.

Transcript

[A]

Let me tell you what Beast game really is. It made Hollywood realize it was all true along the way. You can have a life making content on the Internet Now I'm telling you, Beast is the preview to you can build an empire on the back of a human, the individual empires here.

[B]

Mr. Beast is a prime example of that.

[A]

A prime example. He is the example. He's an inspiration because he did it and he did it piece of content by piece of content by piece of content. But he's also got a consumer product. Beast Games is the scale execution of what Jimmy always wanted to do. And at first he had five bucks to do it and then he had 5,000 bucks and then he had 50,000 bucks and that was wow on YouTube and he had 500,000 bucks and that was wow, wow. And now he's got at the highest levels and he's gonna do everything he ever wants to do in non profit, for profit. He's a preview, not the anomaly. I don't even think Beast has even begun to actually cook. What I'm happy about is there's a lot of kids dreaming right now at 13, 14, 15 because of Jimmy's work. This is the GaryVee audio experience.

[B]

Gary, you talked about the individual empire and the rise of it. Would you say Mr. Beast is a prime example of that?

[A]

A prime example. He is the example, ironically used the word prime. Logan's another one. KSI. Yeah. I mean these kids, you know, it's funny, I came from a business lens to content and empathy wines. I had a brand years before, a lot of the brands content, but they did it bigger and better. And Beast has done it at the highest scale. And I don't even think Beast has even begun to actually cook. He's super young, he's got all the leverage right now. And he's creative and creative is dangerous. And the infrastructure he's building, the capabilities he's building, it's incredibly impressive what aspects.

[B]

Of what he's built translate to the Joe or the Mary on the street who's just trying to build their own empire.

[A]

I mean, he's got the receipts, there's a video of him sitting in his room that has like no views and he's nice and clean and shaved and very cute in South Carolina, I believe. And he's an inspiration because he did it and he did it piece of content by piece of content by piece of content. And you can literally watch. I mean, by the way, this is why I've always loved him and watched him and you know, me too. Like you can go watch the first episode of Wine Library tv. I didn't even have a mic, I didn't even have lighting. Like, you know, $300 camera and you can like, there he is, there's Gary working in a liquor store at 31. And Beast has done it bigger, badder, better, and that's where he's at.

[B]

In 2010, if you were doing this for 05, it would be on YouTube. If it were 80s 90s network TV, what about now in the next decade is more of a unique advantage, I.

[A]

Think live streaming, even Beast, because he always knows where the attention is as well. He hangs out with streamers. So the live streaming ecosystem, the twitch, the kick, the TikTok Live, the YouTube Live, that ecosystem, that whole world, the Kai's, the speeds, the rakai, that whole world is happening. So that's an underpriced attention place. And then it's just being good. All the social networks are still underpriced. YouTube, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, X, they're all underpriced. You just have to be great at it early on when they're underpriced and no one's knowing about it. You have to be good at it to be huge. The more it gets bigger and everyone's on it, the more you have to be great on Instagram. Right now you have to be remarkable to break through and that's supply and demand of attention. Hey everybody, hope you're enjoying the podcast right now. Make sure you follow the podcast. That's why I'm interrupting. Let's keep going on this show, but follow the podcast. It'll make my mom super happy.

[B]

As you know, it's more than content with Mr. Beast, it's infrastructure. Curious, what do you think his rise and guys like him, what that signals about the future of a creator owned IP versus studio?

[A]

Yeah, I mean every cre. This is why I'm writing the book. The individual empire, like the creator, is the studio. Mr. Beast has a studio. We have a studio. We're a production company. Everybody's going to have a studio. Everyone's going to have a consumer packaged goods infrastructure, a marketing infrastructure, a supply chain infrastructure. We're making our own stuff here. I'm making my comic books. We made this. I invented this character, we created this story. We made this physical comic and we sell it on live streaming. The individual empires here and Beast and Bartlett and me and Alex, Cooper and Earl, and you're just gonna see it over and over and over again. And this is the beginning. Crush it. Show it, show it. Crush it was you can be an influencer in 2009. I wrote that. I wrote that in 09. You can have a life making content on the Internet. Now I'm telling you, Beast is the preview to you can build an empire on the back of a human.

[B]

Have you seen him refer less about the algorithm and more the audience. That approach I think kind of flows.

[A]

Through I think just for on the record, so no one's confused. The words are interchangeable. The algorithm is the. Is the black and white scorecard that you made it for the audience. The algorithm is the report card. It's the score. Yeah, I make everything for the. When I say make it for the algo or I say consumer centric or audience, it's all the same thing. It's for the people. That's exactly right. You need to know how the algo works. Mr. Beast talks about the audience, but he was the person that was savant level skilled at the thumbnail.

[B]

A decade from now, what do you think? Beast games and MrBeasts overall will be.

[A]

Remembered for being one of the pioneers of the individual empire. A human that built an audience through what he first loved, scaled that Beast Games is the scaled and execution of what Jimmy always wanted to do. And at first he had five bucks to do it and then he had 5,000 bucks and then he had 50,000 bucks and that was wow on YouTube and he had 500,000 bucks and that was wow, wow. And now he's got at the highest levels but he's also got a consumer product and he's going to do everything he ever wants to do in nonprofit for profit. He's a preview, not the anomaly.

[B]

Last one here. What do you think about Beast Games in particular really?

[A]

Let me tell you what Beast Game really is. It made Hollywood realize it was all true. Along the way there was this moment in Hollywood where like yeah, you could be famous here, but you can't. Beast Games is a lightning rod in culture. But in Hollywood now, I mean it helps people like me and everybody else that's big on social and on the Internet. It proved to everyone that you can easily translate from here to that screen because they're all the same screens, all the same shit. Kudos to Amazon. I don't know the details but they clearly let Jimmy cook. You know, they let him have all the creative infrastructure he I assume needed. So be schemes is important and will also be looked back on as I think you'll see more and more creators and entrepreneurs and creator entrepreneurs and entrepreneur creators win in feature films. Meaningful series, reality scripted, non scripted. I mean, listen, it inspires me back to this when this different than Beast Games, you know, because that's non scripted. When this becomes a feature film, like that's going to be a creator who created so.