How much did Beast Games cost to make? Budget breakdown of MrBeast’s big show
MrBeast’s very own game show, Beast Games, has turned into his most expensive project yet. But just how big was the final budget? Here’s what we know.
YouTube starMrBeastis no stranger to giving away pots of money. Many of his most popular videos involve spending money in some way, shape, or form, be it for charity, ridiculous sets, or cash prizes.
Upping the stakes, however, his firstfull-fledged TV showis far and away his most expensive bit of content yet. From building a village to giving away islands, it’s been a costly endeavor, but just how costly, you ask?
Here’s what we know about the totalBeast Gamesbudget and just how much MrBeast spent bringing the show to life.
Beast Games budget explained
At the time of writing, no exact dollar amount has been set in stone, though MrBeast has gone on record claimingBeast Games cost more than $100 millionto make happen.
Given MrBeastspends roughly half of that annuallyfor his content on YouTube, the social media megastar partnered with Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service in order to get the show across the line.
As for exactly how the nine-figure sum was spent, specifics haven’t been revealed, but we do have some ideas to go off.
Firstly, we know the showbroke over 28 Guinness World Recordsthroughout production. One of those records was for the most cameras ever used in a production. When also factoring in microphones, lighting, rigging, and all the rest, equipment costs alone may be multiple millions.
Next, MrBeast has also gone on record outlining the cost of justone of his larger-than-life sets. The crew spent roughly $14 million in building their own walled-in city to housecontestantsin the Prime Video series.
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The main prize is a $5 million sum, so factor that into the expenses too, but beyond that, the YouTube star also claimed to have given away even more. During an appearance onLogan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, MrBeast implied he gave away a further $15 million in prizes throughout the course of filming.
Another two Guinness World Records support this claim. One was awarded for the “most money given away in a first episode,” while another was handed over for the “largest island given away in a show.” These certainly aren’t cheap awards to win.
Obviously you’ve got staff fees to pay, but that extends well beyond just the shooting days themselves. There’s plenty involved in post-production and marketing costs as well, getting us up to the reported $100 million figure.
Amazon is clearly expecting tons of new Prime Video subscriptions driven by MrBeast’s own promotion of the show in an effort to recoup some of the costs. Just how well it performs may determine whether a similar investment for a second season is worthwhile.
How much did MrBeast spend on Squid Games?
For comparison sake, MrBeast’s biggest YouTube production to date, his Squid Game in Real Life video, cost $3.5 million to make. While $2 million went towards sets, recording equipment, and staff costs, the remaining $1.5 million was handed out as prizes for competitors.
That video went on to shatter records for the social media celeb, quickly becoming his most-viewed video of all time. Given the scope of Beast Games, there’s no telling what kind of viewership records it may set for the streaming platform.
