YouTube superstar MrBeast—real name Jimmy Donaldson—sent the internet into a frenzy after uploading a video titled “I bought the NFL.” But before football fans panic (or celebrate), here’s the truth behind the viral stunt.
The Viral “Press Conference”
The video, posted on September 3, opens with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at a staged press conference, announcing: “Today marks an historic first. The NFL is now under the ownership of one individual, Jimmy Donaldson, MrBeast.”
MrBeast then took the podium and confirmed: “That is right, I officially own the NFL.” He even announced his “first big change”—expanding team rosters from 53 to 54 players, with the extra slot reserved for a YouTuber.
The video then showed popular creators like iShowSpeed, Dude Perfect, Haley Baylee, and Brooke Monk being “drafted” to different teams and joining their training camps.
Did He Actually Buy the League?
Not quite. While the video had fans buzzing, MrBeast later revealed he hadn’t purchased the NFL. In reality, the league is owned by more than 537,000 stakeholders, with each of the 32 teams controlled by one principal owner. The only exception is the Green Bay Packers, which are publicly run by a board of directors.
So what was the point of the elaborate stunt? It was actually a clever promo for YouTube’s upcoming NFL broadcast.
The Real Reason Behind the Video
The viral campaign was designed to hype up YouTube’s rights to stream the September 5 game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs.
“For the first time ever, Chargers vs. Chiefs will be free on YouTube,” MrBeast explained. “It’s literally free, why not?”
Could MrBeast Actually Afford an NFL Team?
The 27-year-old YouTuber might not own the league, but he isn’t far off from making big-money moves. Earlier this year, he confirmed on the Diary of a CEO podcast that he had officially become a billionaire “on paper.”
Still, Donaldson admitted he doesn’t live like one. “In my actual bank account, I have less than a million dollars,” he said. Instead, he pours nearly all of his revenue back into content, stunts, and his growing team.
“I just try to pay myself what I spend personally a month, just to stay even,” he added.
The Takeaway
No, MrBeast doesn’t own the NFL—but he certainly knows how to take over the internet. With more than 430 million subscribers on his main channel, the YouTube mogul has once again proven that when it comes to pulling off viral spectacles, he’s in a league of his own.