MrBeast Unveils $100,000 VIP Weekend to Fund Charity, Targets High-Dollar Donors

The Beast Philanthropy campaign is designed for donors 'who believe in the power of giving back.'

Published: 6/4/2025, 8:15:28 AM EDT

MrBeast Unveils $100,000 VIP Weekend to Fund Charity, Targets High-Dollar Donors — Jimmy Donaldson, who goes by the online alias MrBeast, arrives at the 11th Breakthrough Prize Ceremony in Los Angeles on April 5, 2025. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

YouTube content creator Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, is using his online influence to create a high-stakes fundraising campaign.

He is offering a select group of major donors an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience in exchange for six-figure charitable gifts.

Donaldson is inviting the first 40 individuals who pledge $100,000 to his registered nonprofit, Beast Philanthropy, to participate in a VIP weekend on the set of his hit Amazon Prime Video series, “Beast Games.”

The event, scheduled for June 27–29, 2025, promises a unique glimpse into the production of one of the world’s most-watched reality competitions, as well as participation in hands-on volunteer work.

New Approach to Fundraising

This new campaign is a change from Donaldson’s typical fundraising strategy for his charity work, which is funded through revenue from his Beast Philanthropy YouTube channel. The new campaign, instead, calls on his massive fan base—now more than 400 million subscribers across his channels—to contribute directly.

“I have some big charity projects I want to fund, so I think it’s a win/win,” Donaldson said in a post on the social media platform X.

The campaign, detailed on beastphilanthropy.org, is designed for donors “who believe in the power of giving back.”

Each $100,000 pledge secures access for the donor and up to two guests, with all proceeds going directly to support Beast Philanthropy’s initiatives, including food security and community development.

Inside the VIP Experience

The weekend will kick off with a welcome dinner, followed by VIP access to the “Beast Games” set, a private Q&A with the production team, and exclusive time with the creative staff.

Donors will also volunteer at the Beast Philanthropy food pantry, seeing firsthand the impact of their contributions.

The package includes professional photography, a two-night hotel stay, all meals, curated experiences, private ground transportation, and Beast-branded merchandise. Travel to and from Greenville, North Carolina, is not included.

The event is described as “not-for-profit,” with every dollar raised supporting Beast Philanthropy’s “life-changing projects,” according to the organization.

Record-Breaking Platform

The fundraising push comes on the heels of Amazon Prime Video’s renewal of “Beast Games” for two additional seasons. The reality series, which featured 1,000 contestants competing for a $5 million grand prize, set a streaming record for Amazon with 50 million views in its first 25 days, according to Forbes.

Donaldson’s philanthropic campaigns have ranged from providing cataract surgery for 1,000 people to building wells in Africa, treating heart disease in Nigeria, and protecting endangered animals in Kenya.

Motivations and Critiques

Donaldson has addressed criticism that his philanthropy is a shield against negative attention. “People hate me more because I do good,” he said in a conversation on the YouTube channel oompaville.

“Maybe that’s too crazy of a statement. I’m not trying to sound like a victim here or anything. ... The truth is, I just find videos where I help people more fun than videos where I don’t.”

Deborah Small, a psychology and marketing professor at Yale University, compared the event to high-end charity galas, suggesting that some donors may be motivated by the exclusive experience as much as the cause.

“It seems like, in this case, MrBeast is betting on the fact that maybe some other segment of potential donors, maybe people who wouldn’t donate otherwise, will buy in for this exclusive opportunity,” Small said.

Looking Ahead

The exclusive weekend is the latest in a series of high-profile events for MrBeast, whose previous fan experience in Las Vegas fell short of expectations, according to reviews.

Donaldson responded by offering affected guests a free tour of his North Carolina headquarters.

“This definitely isn't the experience we hoped they'd deliver. My team's already on it—I'd love to personally make it up to you and anyone else by inviting everybody affected to tour my actual studio!” Mr. Beast said in an April 15 post on X.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.