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MrBeast touched down in Australia earlier this week, sending fans into a frenzy by giving away several luxury cars, including a $450,000 Lamborghini.
The 26-year-old, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, is already the world’s richest YouTuber in the world, with an estimated net worth of more than $750million and over 288 million subscribers on his channel.
A lucky Aussie fan won the $450,000 Lamborghini during a major giveaway held at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday, while nine other cars were also up for grabs.
The flashy vehicles included a Porsche, Mercedes, Tesla, the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine van and a Jurassic-Park-themed Volkswagen.
MrBeast is currently Down Under promoting the launch of his Feastables chocolate bar, which is available to purchase nation-wide.
He’s also offering Aussies the chance to win a car when purchasing a chocolate bar.
But fans are already turning on the social media star, who has almost 60million Instagram followers, claiming the giveaway is a ‘scam’.
TikTok user @gabenxoe shared a video showing that she won a car after purchasing several Feastables and spinning to win.
MrBeast (pictured) touched down in Australia earlier this week, sending fans into a frenzy by giving away several luxury cars, including a $450,000 Lamborghini
A lucky Aussie fan won the $450,000 Lamborghini during a major giveaway held at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday, while nine other cars were also up for grabs
The woman’s spin landed on three cars, but the result read: ‘Sorry! Not this time.’
‘I played your little game, and I won. And then you told me, “Womp womp”,’ she said in the video.
‘When I reached out to your team, they said, “Sorry for the miscommunication. You’re not one of the registered winners. Here’s 10, free spins.” 10 free spins?! I’d rather take the car personally.’
She continued: ‘I found out I’m not the only one who’s had this issue. There’s actually been a lot of people on this app and other apps, sharing their experiences, sharing screenshots of them winning and being told, “Sorry, not this time”.
‘So what’s going on? Because I don’t understand how we can play a game, win, and be told we don’t win.’
Thousands flocked to the Sydney Opera House for a chance to win a flashy new car
His success has been built around extravagant stunts which set him apart from his rivals
Despite MrBeast’s well documented philanthropy, there have been previous allegations of workplace bullying – and as his fame grows, the scrutiny is only likely to increase.
In 2021, The New York Times reported 11 people who worked for the YouTuber said his ‘demeanour changed when the cameras weren’t around’ and described ‘a difficult work environment’.
Matt Turner, an editor for Donaldson from 2018 to 2019, said he was berated on an almost daily basis and posted a video explaining the allegations.
He also wrote in a since deleted Twitter thread that he was ‘yelled at, bullied…and called replaceable by MrBeast every single day’, according to The New York Times.
Nate Anderson, who worked for Donaldson for a week, also alleged that the YouTuber was a perfectionist who made unreasonable demands.
Donaldson has been dogged by accusations of workplace toxicity. Matt Turner, an editor for Donaldson from 2018 to 2019, said he was berated on an almost daily basis.
Gareth Boyd, head of growth at Finty.com, believes such allegations could be particularly damaging for Donaldson’s business model, which has previously relied on an impression of likeability.
‘His personal brand is that he is an average guy who reinvests his money and he’s doing it for fun,’ says Boyd. ‘He’s not driving around in a Lamborghini, he’s giving them away.
‘But as he gets more and more popular the smaller inner circle that he has – he is still pretty much surrounded by childhood friends – there will be a few that eventually leave and leak stories and sometime or another the inside accounts will come out.’
Born in Wichita, Kansas, before growing up in Greenville, North Carolina, MrBeast uploaded his first YouTube video in February 2012, aged 13.
His early content revolved around harmless pranks on friends.
MrBeast uploaded his first YouTube video in February 2012, aged 13
Most of MrBeast’s giveaways are funded by brand deals and ad revenues
His first hit was a video of him taking four hours to count to 100,000. As his following grew, MrBeast moved towards the lavish giveaways that have become his trademark.
It started small, giving away cash prizes to members of his community, but quickly gathered momentum and by 2018 he was donating $100,000 worth of products to a homeless shelter.
He has since repeated the dose to an Uber driver, a waitress, and people in parking lots.
In one video, he dropped $20,000 out of a drone and gave a pizza man the house he was delivering to as a tip.
Gareth Boyd said MrBeast outgrew other YouTubers because his stunts, which are not confined to charitable acts, ‘were totally and utterly different to anything else anyone was doing’.
‘Going to a football training ground and seeing who can hold onto an airplane the longest – what other TV show does that?’ he added.
MrBeast himself has credited his success to innovative thinking and calculated risk-taking.
He also has an eye for new opportunities and brand deals, expanding his YouTube empire into the food and drink sector.
Most of MrBeast’s giveaways are funded by brand deals and ad revenues.
