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 non-public Necker Island.
Whereas the YouTube celebrity has constructed his profession round large productions watched by hundreds of thousands, he selected a strikingly completely different method for one in all his largest private milestones, maintaining the ceremony centered on household, shut buddies, and privateness.
MrBeast, whose actual identify 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 buddies.
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 be a longtime household buddy.
In accordance with PEOPLE, Booysen wore a customized Nicole + Felicia Couture marriage ceremony robe whereas Donaldson opted for a Ralph Lauren tuxedo. Superstar 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 Woman Gaga and Bruno Mars’ hit “Die With a Smile” earlier than celebrating late into the night.
Relatively than ending with an extravagant movie star afterparty, Booysen joked that many friends wrapped up the night time enjoying card video games and board video games, calling the gathering delightfully “nerdy.” Friends 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 way of his YouTube empire, his relationship with Booysen began removed from the cameras.
The pair first met in South Africa in 2022 after a mutual buddy 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 advised PEOPLE, “Once I met him, I used to be fairly shocked how down-to-earth he was, and in addition how clever he was. I assumed YouTubers had been simply type of a persona, however once 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 america, 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 Youngsters’ Alternative Awards in April 2022 earlier than Donaldson proposed on Christmas Day in 2024.
Trying 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 Marriage ceremony
For somebody whose movies routinely entice lots of of hundreds of thousands of views, Donaldson intentionally prevented turning his marriage ceremony into on-line content material.
Talking earlier than the ceremony, he revealed he needed the day to stay virtually fully non-public, with solely an expert marriage ceremony photographer documenting the celebration.
He beforehand advised PEOPLE, “It will positively be extra household and buddies — positively extra non-public. Will probably be the last word method to take a while away and luxuriate 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 strengthened that want for privateness. Owned by Richard Branson, the unique Caribbean retreat has lengthy attracted high-profile friends looking for secluded celebrations and may accommodate non-public weddings of as much as 200 friends whereas remaining closed off from the general public.
Why Necker Island Has Turn into A Superstar Marriage 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 non-public luxurious resorts.
Branson bought the island a long time in the past earlier than reworking it into an unique vacation spot recognized for internet hosting celebrities, entrepreneurs, and world leaders.
The island affords all the pieces from non-public 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 almost each facet of the celebration, from intimate seashore ceremonies to bigger occasions, whereas maintaining the expertise extremely non-public.
For Donaldson, whose profession has largely unfolded in entrance of cameras, the secluded island offered a uncommon alternative to have fun one in all life’s largest moments away from the fixed consideration that accompanies being the world’s most-subscribed particular person YouTuber.
The Newlyweds Are Already Trying Forward
Regardless of lastly changing into husband and spouse, Booysen prompt 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 relationship we’ve been doing it with the purpose 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, but it surely was heaven.”
Reflecting on having family members collectively in a single place, Booysen stated, “We had been so joyful, and there was a lot love. We work rather a lot 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 buddies for the same weeklong reunion yearly.
For Booysen, one reminiscence stood above all the pieces else.
She revealed, “Jimmy actually went out of his method to make all of the friends tremendous comfy and really feel included, and acquired 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 subsequent journey they’ve lengthy envisioned collectively.
