Amazon teams with social influencer ‘MrBeast’ for reality competition

Amazon is adapting a successful YouTube show from top influencer and social media star "MrBeast" for Prime Video.

The new show, “Beast Games,” will premiere on Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service, which is offered as a free perk with membership in the paid Amazon Prime subscription program, and feature 1,000 contestants competing for a $5 million prize.

The show will be based on the YouTube competition show of the same name from Jimmy Donaldson, a.k.a. “MrBeast,” who is famous for providing video challenges such as “Quit your job and I’ll give you $100,000.”

According to Amazon, the $5 million cash prize offered by “Beast Games” will be the biggest single prize in the history of television and streaming. "Beast Games" will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide, with MrBeast serving as host and executive producer.

“My goal is to make the greatest show possible and prove YouTubers and creators can succeed on other platforms,” MrBeast said in an Amazon blog post. “Amazon gave me the creative control I need to try and make it happen. I hope to make the YouTube community proud.”

"When MrBeast first told us about his concept for the show, we were blown away by his ambition to make ‘Beast Games’ the biggest reality competition series ever,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios. 

"MrBeast has captured the attention and imagination of fans of all ages, from all walks of life, and all over the world," said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios. "We are excited to work with Jimmy and his talented team to bring his brilliant, high production, and stakes-raising concepts to Beast Games for our global customers to experience."

Safeway partners with MrBeast in promotion

Albertsons grocery banner Safeway teamed up with MrBeast in December 2023 in a social media contest that aired on YouTube. The “Survive in a Grocery Store” video showed MrBeast challenging a contestant to see how many days he can live inside a Safeway grocery store to win $10,000 each day, as well as donate $10,000 worth of grocery items to charity each day. 

[Read more: MrBeast sets traffic record at American Dream]