"However, many YouTubers have reduced their reliance on ad revenue and brand deals. There are several reasons for this shift. First, ad revenue can be unpredictable. With YouTube continually updating its policies, some creators find it challenging to secure ads for their videos, which can negatively impact their earnings. They've also realized that income from these streams can vanish unexpectedly."
"MrBeast Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, who has 442 million subscribers, isn't just one of the platform's biggest creators - he's its most aggressive entrepreneur. In November 2025, for example, The Times reported that the YouTuber is set to open a theme park in Saudi Arabia, with rides inspired by his video content. Among other features, there will supposedly be a game where six players stand on trap doors and must press a button when it lights up or fall down."
YouTube's creative ecosystem added over $55 billion to U.S. GDP and created more than 490,000 full-time jobs. Many creators have reduced reliance on ad revenue and brand deals because ad income is unpredictable and policy changes can block ads or abruptly eliminate earnings. Creators are building vertically integrated media companies with product lines, brick-and-mortar ventures, and consumer brands to create revenue that outlasts algorithm shifts. Some side businesses are growing faster and more sustainably than creators' channels. Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast) exemplifies this by expanding into theme parks, telecommunications plans, and financial-service apps and acquisitions.
Read at TechCrunch
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