Popular YouTuber and charity donor Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast, made waves on social media this week after uploading a video indicating that he had bought the National Football League (NFL).
The startling assertion went viral in no time – but as it happens, the revelation was entirely a marketing ploy.
On September 3, MrBeast posted a video called “I Bought The NFL” to his channel, which has millions of subscribers. The video opens with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressing what seems to be a press conference, and stating: “Today is a historic first. The NFL is now owned by one man, Jimmy Donaldson, MrBeast.”
Donaldson then addresses the podium to finalize the startling “news.” “That is correct, I officially own the NFL,” he says, and goes on to describe his alleged first major change – increasing team rosters to 54 players from 53 and occupying the additional spot with a YouTuber.
The clip ridiculously depicts creators such as iShowSpeed, Dude Perfect, Hayley Baylee, and Brooke Monk getting drafted by NFL teams and training like pros.
But as the video comes to an end, MrBeast drops the bombshell: he did not, in fact, purchase the NFL. Instead, the prank was a marketing push for YouTube, who will be streaming the Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs game for free on September 5.
“For the first time ever, Chargers vs. Chiefs will be free on YouTube,” Donaldson says to viewers. “Make sure you watch it. It’s literally free, why not?”
The clip has already amassed over 3 million views since it was posted, demonstrating once again MrBeast’s unparalleled viral marketing power.
Although most fans were temporarily fooled by the hype, die-hard sports fans understand the NFL is not on the market. Each of the league’s 32 teams is independently owned, with the exception of the Green Bay Packers, which are a publicly owned, nonprofit corporation.
The partnership of MrBeast with the NFL underscores an increasing tendency to combine mainstream sports with online-first creators in an effort to capture younger audiences on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok.
While MrBeast might not technically own the NFL, his new stunt demonstrates that where garnering eyeballs on the internet is concerned, he’s still playing on a different field.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
