MrBeast Says Trump’s Tariffs Make US-Made Chocolate Costlier, Despite His Billion-Dollar Empire

Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast, isn’t just a YouTuber anymore. He’s a businessman, a philanthropist, and one of the most influential names in the world right now. However, even a man with a billion-dollar empire struggles to navigate the new tariff policies former US President Donald Trump introduced.

MrBeast questions US tariffs as the cost of chocolate production shoots up.

MrBeast’s post on X:

“It’s now cheaper to make my chocolate bars outside the US because other countries don’t have a 20%+ tariff on our COGS.”

He added that even though his chocolate brand, Feastables, already pays farmers a fair wage and uses certified beans, the additional 20 %+ hike due to tariffs has hit the company hard.

MrBeast expressed concern, especially for small businesses, calling this move “a nail in the coffin” for those struggling to survive. He added, “We’ll figure it out. But I feel for small businesses.”

A Billion-Dollar Creator with a Heart for Good

Despite earning millions every month, MrBeast’s frustration highlights how flawed policies affect all businesses, big or small.

In 2024 alone, MrBeast earned an estimated $85 million, and industry sources like Forbes and Celebrity Net Worth estimate his total wealth at around $1 billion.

His sources of income include:

• YouTube ad revenue (he has over 383 million subscribers)
• Brand collaborations (charging $2.5M–$3M per promotion)
• Businesses like MrBeast Burger and Feastables
• There could be more from his angel and other investments, which no one knows about.

Yet, YouTubers are not untouched by unfair systems. His comment reflects a deeper issue: What hope do local startups have when even the wealthiest entrepreneurs are forced to consider offshoring due to tariffs?

MrBeast Continues Humanitarian Work and Faces Backlash

Beyond business, MrBeast continues to impact lives. On April 6, he revealed a newly built surgical centre in Ghana in partnership with Ghana Make a Difference (GMAD). The facility is set to help children who were once trafficked into forced labour, offering them life-changing medical treatment.

But not everyone was pleased. One social media user accused him of “virtue signalling” and questioned why he wasn’t helping Americans first.

To this, MrBeast replied:

“We do routine food drives in America and give millions of meals away for free to Americans each year. If I listed out all the projects we’ve done in America this tweet would be a book.”

His reply showcases both his frustration and the reality of online criticism. Even when he is doing good, someone always asks for more.

Logic, Emotion, and His Fair Questions

MrBeast’s dilemma isn’t just about money. It’s about values. He built Feastables on ethics, fair trade, living wages, and transparency. But now, a policy meant to boost American industry might push him, and many others, to move operations abroad.

The internet’s biggest star, a man richer than most Hollywood celebrities, asks a simple, emotional, and logical question: If it’s becoming too expensive for him to support US productions, what about the rest of us?