Fans of YouTube sensation Mr. Beast were shocked to discover his criminal record.
Known for his over-the-top challenges, massive giveaways, and viral stunts, MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, is also famous for keeping quiet about his personal finances, despite Forbes reporting that he earned $85 million in 2024.
A 2018 mugshot of MrBeast, the philanthropic YouTube star, recently surfaced amid a class-action lawsuit filed by former contestants on his upcoming game show for alleged “chronic mistreatment,” including sexual harassment.
On January 21, 2018, around 2:30 a.m. one night, MrBeast along with two other drivers were pulled over by police on a North Carolina highway after allegedly driving 122 mph, according to the Tarboro Police Department.
According to Tar River, two vehicles were racing against each other when MrBeast, who was 19 years old at the time, was stopped. He was arrested and taken into custody, facing charges of speeding in a 70 mph zone, reckless driving and participating in a speed contest. He was placed on bail of $100,000.
MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, was arrested in 2018 for reckless driving and participating in a speed competition.
Fans speculate that MrBeast was driving a BMW i8, a car he had recently purchased and flaunted in a now-deleted video.
Fans speculate that MrBeast was driving a BMW i8, a car he had recently purchased and flaunted in a now-deleted video.
In the video, he revealed that he financed the car not only with his YouTube earnings but also by selling some of his cryptocurrency holdings.
The news of the arrest took many fans by surprise.
‘This is something the YouTube community doesn’t know yet. Pretty surprising to be honest,” said a Reddit user.
Another commented: “I didn’t know MrBeast was arrested before.”
“Well this is amazing what the fuck,” said a third.
While MrBeast has never publicly commented on his 2018 arrest, he recently addressed allegations of sexual misconduct surrounding his company.
MrBeast is the subject of a class action lawsuit, along with Amazon, which picked up the program
Five anonymous competitors say they were subjected to a toxic work environment, which included unchecked sexual harassment against female contestants.
The 26-year-old content creator is the subject of a class-action lawsuit, along with Amazon, which picked up his upcoming game show.
Five participants in the upcoming Beast Games are suing the internet personality, alleging “unreasonable, unsafe and illegal employment conditions.”
They claim that production teams maintained “the strictest control” over them, including removing their belongings and withholding food, water and medical care to the point that several contestants were hospitalized for dehydration.
They also accuse the YouTuber of fostering a “toxic and hostile” work environment, particularly for female participants, as a result of “boy-will-be-boy working conditions apparently promoted by Mr. Donaldson,” according to the document.
In August, reports emerged that YouTuber MrBeast hired celebrity attorney Alex Spiro to address allegations from a former employee. This former employee, Dawson French, used online aliases to accuse MrBeast of tampering with his extravagant gifts and knowingly employing a sex offender.
MrBeast has remained silent about the claims, but a cease-and-desist letter allegedly sent by Spiro to French accuses him of spreading “misinformation and false statements.”
MrBeast’s company is also accused of withholding food, water, medical supplies and hygiene products during production.
The letter, obtained by DailyMail.com, threatens legal action and seeks damages if French continues to post under the aliases MrBeastCreative and DogPack404.
French, contacted by DailyMail.com, responded with a serious accusation: “MrBeast has knowingly kept rapists and pedophiles on the payroll (supposedly for legal reasons, but I believe some were convicted).”
MrBeast has a staggering 327 million followers, making him the most followed individual on YouTube.
He also oversees four additional channels, each with more than 25 million subscribers.