MrBeast's €97m 'Beast Games' faces legal challenges

YouTuber MrBeast is producing a show called Beast Games. In collaboration with Amazon, the influencer aims to create something unprecedented. The production budget is staggering. MrBeast also mentioned that during the show's filming, they broke dozens of world records.

Are social media no longer sufficient? Many popular internet creators are increasingly collaborating with television or streaming services. Participating in reality shows is no longer surprising; only the most prominent influencers receive offers to create their own programmes. Among them is the American entertainment giant, MrBeast. The influencer, businessman, and philanthropist has joined forces with Amazon to create something new globally.

The show Beast Games is a joint venture between MrBeast and Amazon. It is based on a well-known format of competitions organised by influencers, where the best competitor wins a substantial prize. This time, over a thousand participants will vie for one gigantic payout—€4 million.

In a conversation with Logan Paul and KSI, MrBeast revealed that the budget for "Beast Games" is €97 million, including €14 million spent on building a walled city from scratch, where the show's competitions will occur. Additionally, the "Beast Games" participants collectively received €19 million. On the "Impulsive" podcast, the influencer stated that they broke over 40 world records during the filming of Beast Games: the most participants in the history of television shows, the largest cash prize in the history of shows, and the most cameras recording simultaneously in production. If there was a record for television shows, they'd probably broken it.

The influencer mentioned that he wants to share all the production details but is waiting for Amazon to clarify what he’s allowed to disclose. He hinted that the information would be mind-blowing, adding that the ten episodes would make his YouTube videos seem insignificant in comparison.

Even before the premiere of "Beast Games," the production was accused of serious violations of labour law and ethical standards. In mid-September 2024, five employees filed a lawsuit against the production. The plaintiffs accused MrBeast of "creating a hostile work environment," including failure to pay minimum wages, overtime pay, sexual harassment, unsafe working conditions, and misleading them about the nature of the competition. The plaintiffs are suing MrBeast Amazon, and the companies responsible for the production, including MRB2024 LLC and Off One's Base LLC.

The allegations are particularly serious. An American journalist uncovered information that on 11th September, a production worker was struck by a piece of a tower that fell during filming. As a result of the incident, the injured individual was taken to hospital, where they remain.