MrBeast has formally entered a brand new chapter of his life after quietly marrying longtime girlfriend Thea Booysen throughout an intimate weeklong celebration on Richard Branson’s personal Necker Island.
Whereas the YouTube famous person has constructed his profession round large productions watched by hundreds of thousands, he selected a strikingly completely different method for one in every of his largest private milestones, preserving the ceremony targeted on household, shut pals, and privateness.
MrBeast, whose actual title is Jimmy Donaldson, married fellow content material creator and writer Thea Booysen throughout an intimate ceremony attended by about 70 friends on Richard Branson’s 74-acre Necker Island within the British Virgin Islands.
The weeklong celebration started on July 14, combining the couple’s marriage ceremony with a number of days of actions for household and pals.
Earlier than exchanging vows, friends hung out snorkeling, kitesurfing, and exploring the island’s wildlife, together with its well-known lemurs and flamingos. The ceremony itself was officiated by an ordained minister who can also be a longtime household pal.
In response to PEOPLE, Booysen wore a customized Nicole + Felicia Couture marriage ceremony robe whereas Donaldson opted for a Ralph Lauren tuxedo. Movie star planner Marcy Blum oversaw the week’s festivities, with styling by Jeremy Noig and leisure offered by On the Transfer Leisure.
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds shared their first dance to Girl Gaga and Bruno Mars’ hit “Die With a Smile” earlier than celebrating late into the night.
Moderately than ending with an extravagant celeb afterparty, Booysen joked that many friends wrapped up the evening enjoying card video games and board video games, calling the gathering delightfully “nerdy.” Visitors additionally loved an intensive menu that includes sushi, Wagyu beef, seafood, and a carrot cake chosen as a result of it’s Booysen’s favourite.
MrBeast And Thea Booysen’s Romance Started In South Africa
Though hundreds of thousands know MrBeast by his YouTube empire, his relationship with Booysen began removed from the cameras.
The pair first met in South Africa in 2022 after a mutual pal invited Booysen to dinner whereas Donaldson was visiting the nation.
Booysen admitted she initially anticipated the world’s largest YouTuber to be very completely different.
She informed PEOPLE, “Once I met him, I used to be fairly shocked how down-to-earth he was, and likewise how clever he was. I assumed YouTubers had been simply type of a persona, however after I met him, I used to be fairly shocked to see that he’s really a pleasant man. He wasn’t sitting there with an ego.”
Donaldson recalled that they “vibed immediately” due to their shared curiosity and love of studying. After returning to the USA, he despatched Booysen a direct message on X, starting a long-distance relationship that finally led to frequent worldwide visits.
The couple made their first public appearance together on the Children’ Alternative Awards in April 2022 earlier than Donaldson proposed on Christmas Day in 2024.
Wanting again on the proposal, MrBeast defined, “I deliberately dropped a big field to make noise earlier than presenting the true present — with the ring inside — to her. After which I went down on a knee and proposed.”
MrBeast Selected Privateness Over A Viral Wedding ceremony
For somebody whose movies routinely entice a whole lot of hundreds of thousands of views, Donaldson intentionally averted turning his marriage ceremony into on-line content material.
Talking earlier than the ceremony, he revealed he needed the day to stay nearly fully personal, with solely knowledgeable marriage ceremony photographer documenting the celebration.
He beforehand informed PEOPLE, “This can positively be extra household and pals — positively extra personal. It is going to be the last word method to take a while away and revel in issues.”
That call displays a constant boundary Donaldson has maintained between his private relationships and his on-line profession. Whereas his philanthropy challenges, competitions, and enterprise ventures frequently dominate YouTube, Booysen has largely remained outdoors the highlight besides for infrequent appearances alongside him.
The selection of Necker Island additionally bolstered that want for privateness. Owned by Richard Branson, the unique Caribbean retreat has lengthy attracted high-profile friends searching for secluded celebrations and might accommodate personal weddings of as much as 200 friends whereas remaining closed off from the general public.
Why Necker Island Has Turn into A Movie star Wedding ceremony Vacation spot
MrBeast and Booysen’s ceremony provides one other notable chapter to the historical past of Necker Island, one of many world’s best-known personal luxurious resorts.
Branson bought the island a long time in the past earlier than remodeling it into an unique vacation spot identified for internet hosting celebrities, entrepreneurs, and world leaders.
The island provides the whole lot from personal seashores and luxurious villas to wildlife experiences and water sports activities, making it a sought-after location for vacation spot weddings and milestone celebrations.
Its wedding program permits {couples} to customise practically each facet of the celebration, from intimate seaside ceremonies to bigger occasions, whereas preserving the expertise extremely personal.
For Donaldson, whose profession has largely unfolded in entrance of cameras, the secluded island offered a uncommon alternative to rejoice one in every of life’s largest moments away from the fixed consideration that accompanies being the world’s most-subscribed particular person YouTuber.
The Newlyweds Are Already Wanting Forward
Regardless of lastly turning into husband and spouse, Booysen urged their relationship will really feel a lot the identical as soon as the celebrations finish.
She shared, “It sounds foolish, however that is actually only a formality. Ever since we began courting we’ve been doing it with the aim of marriage. The distinction is now the world is aware of we’re married, however we’ll nonetheless come residence to our home and canines and cats, after which we’re off to our subsequent journey!”
She additionally described the week as unforgettable, noting, “That is cliché, nevertheless it was heaven.”
Reflecting on having family members collectively in a single place, Booysen stated, “We had been so blissful, and there was a lot love. We work quite a bit and don’t get to be round all our family and friends, so to have everybody in a single place was actually particular.”
She added that the couple now hopes to create a brand new custom by gathering household and pals for the same weeklong reunion yearly.
For Booysen, one reminiscence stood above the whole lot else.
She revealed, “Jimmy actually went out of his method to make all of the friends tremendous comfy and really feel included, and received to know my prolonged household, and it was all so extremely particular. It simply made me love him all of the extra.”
With the marriage now behind them, the newlyweds are turning their consideration to the following journey they’ve lengthy envisioned collectively.
