Can MrBeast really afford the NFL? What Jimmy Donaldson’s net worth tells us

Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, claimed he “bought the NFL” in a viral video released ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs matchup on Sept. 5. The YouTuber stood next to commissioner Roger Goodell at a mock press conference, sparking confusion among fans who questioned if the world’s biggest content creator had actually purchased the league.

MrBeast’s ‘I bought the NFL’ stunt explained

The announcement was part of a promotional campaign for YouTube, which streamed the Chargers-Chiefs game live from São Paulo, Brazil, for free worldwide.In the clip, Goodell declared, “Today marks an historic first. The NFL is now under the ownership of one individual, Jimmy Donaldson, MrBeast.”Donaldson followed by saying, “That is right, I officially own the NFL. I think it’s time for some changes. So, for my very first change, we are going to be changing the roster from 53 players to 54, and giving that new roster spot to a YouTuber.”The video then showed creators such as iShowSpeed, Haley Baylee, Dude Perfect, and Brooke Monk being drafted to different teams. At one point, Donaldson told Baylee over FaceTime, “How’s it going? I own the NFL now, what do you need?” She replied, “Jimmy dibs on the Vikings. Go Vikings, I have played this game. Go Vikings, all hail your name.”While the video went viral, it confirmed itself as satire. The NFL remains owned by its 32 teams, with over 537,000 stakeholders.

Can MrBeast afford the NFL?

Even with his growing fortune, Donaldson cannot buy the league. A Forbes report listed his net worth at $85 million in 2025, while Celebrity Net Worth estimates place him closer to $1 billion after massive earnings from YouTube, Feastables, Beast Burger, and upcoming Amazon projects.The NFL’s combined valuation, however, stands at an estimated $228 billion, with the average franchise worth around $7.1 billion. That puts outright ownership out of reach for Donaldson, though his wealth makes him one of the youngest billionaires in the world.Donaldson has confirmed he reinvests most of his earnings back into content. In a 2025 podcast appearance, he said, “In my actual bank account, I have less than a million dollars. I just like to reinvest it all.”