If you think YouTube advertising is cheap, think again.
Court documents from a lawsuit between MrBeast and his former food-business partner show just how much brands pay to get in front of his audience. In early 2024, a 30- to 45-second sponsored spot on MrBeast's main channel cost around $2.5 million. Adding a short-form version for TikTok or YouTube Shorts alongside the main ad came with an additional $500,000 price tag.
The numbers get bigger from there. Placing the MrBeast name on a brand's website could cost up to $1 million per month. In a late 2022 pitch, the team requested between $8 million and $10 million from Walmart to produce a video where Donaldson attempted to purchase all items in a Supercenter. A board presentation from February 2023 indicated that the creator anticipated $8 million in revenue from Walmart for that fiscal year.
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Among the notable agreements were a $15 million T-Mobile contract covering four promotional videos and a $12.5 million Amazon deal for five ads on the main channel. The company also pitched Slack on a 12-month program worth $15 million total. As of mid-2024, MrBeast's firm had secured $91 million in brand agreements for the upcoming year.
The pitch documents make that clear. One presentation from MrBeast's team told Sony that "Fortune 500 companies are finally recognizing the value MrBeast brings to brands. MrBeast serves as a trusted voice and helps translate brand messaging into digestible concepts to the everyday consumer."
Industry insiders say the transparency of MrBeast's pricing also helps close deals fast. Ogilvy's EMEA head of influence, Imogen Coles, said, "not every creator makes costs and deliverables so clear - they often want more information from the brand first, which can derail a conversation." Jo Wong, general manager of the AI commerce firm Pop.Store, commented that the Slack pitch "immediately bridges the gap: why MrBeast and why Slack."
Bryce Adams, who leads US influencer efforts at WPP's The Goat Agency, compared the creator's operation to a TV network, saying, "You should look at us like we're an NBC." And on the pitch approach: "What he's saying is, combining my identity with yours is going to give you reach you're not going to get anywhere else."
The disclosed rates underscore MrBeast's dominance in the creator economy, where his ability to command prices comparable to major TV networks reflects a broader shift in advertising budgets toward digital influencers. The court filings reveal the scale of his business operations, with a team that pitches brands like a media conglomerate, offering integrated campaigns across YouTube, TikTok, and product placements. According to industry experts, his straightforward pricing model and massive reach make him an attractive partner for Fortune 500 companies, as evidenced by the $91 million in future contracts.
The documents became public as MrBeast expanded into new territory. He was getting ready to debut the initial season of his Amazon Prime series, "Beast Games." The company also recently held a breakfast event during TV upfronts week for brands.
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