MrBeast has officially entered a brand new chapter of his life after quietly marrying longtime girlfriend Thea Booysen during an intimate weeklong celebration on Richard Branson’s private Necker Island.
While the YouTube superstar has built his profession around massive productions watched by thousands and thousands, he selected a strikingly different approach for one among his biggest personal milestones, keeping the ceremony focused on family, close friends, and privacy.
MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, married fellow content creator and creator Thea Booysen during an intimate ceremony attended by about 70 guests on Richard Branson’s 74-acre Necker Island within the British Virgin Islands.
The weeklong celebration began on July 14, combining the couple’s wedding with several days of activities for family and friends.
Before exchanging vows, guests hung out snorkeling, kitesurfing, and exploring the island’s wildlife, including its famous lemurs and flamingos. The ceremony itself was officiated by an ordained minister who can be a longtime family friend.
Based on PEOPLE, Booysen wore a custom Nicole + Felicia Couture wedding gown while Donaldson opted for a Ralph Lauren tuxedo. Celebrity planner Marcy Blum oversaw the week’s festivities, with styling by Jeremy Noig and entertainment provided by On the Move Entertainment.
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds shared their first dance to Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ hit “Die With a Smile” before celebrating late into the evening.
Fairly than ending with an extravagant celebrity afterparty, Booysen joked that many guests wrapped up the night playing card games and board games, calling the gathering delightfully “nerdy.” Guests also enjoyed an in depth menu featuring sushi, Wagyu beef, seafood, and a carrot cake chosen since it is Booysen’s favorite.
MrBeast And Thea Booysen’s Romance Began In South Africa
Although thousands and thousands know MrBeast through his YouTube empire, his relationship with Booysen began removed from the cameras.
The pair first met in South Africa in 2022 after a mutual friend invited Booysen to dinner while Donaldson was visiting the country.
Booysen admitted she initially expected the world’s biggest YouTuber to be very different.
She told PEOPLE, “Once I met him, I used to be quite surprised how down-to-earth he was, and in addition how intelligent he was. I believed YouTubers were just type of a persona, but once I met him, I used to be quite surprised to see that he’s actually a pleasant guy. He wasn’t sitting there with an ego.”
Donaldson recalled that they “vibed immediately” due to their shared curiosity and love of learning. After returning to america, he sent Booysen a direct message on X, starting a long-distance relationship that eventually led to frequent international visits.
The couple made their first public appearance together on the Kids’ Selection Awards in April 2022 before Donaldson proposed on Christmas Day in 2024.
Looking back on the proposal, MrBeast explained, “I intentionally dropped a big box to make noise before presenting the true gift — with the ring inside — to her. After which I went down on a knee and proposed.”
MrBeast Selected Privacy Over A Viral Wedding
For somebody whose videos routinely attract a whole lot of thousands and thousands of views, Donaldson deliberately avoided turning his wedding into online content.
Speaking before the ceremony, he revealed he wanted the day to stay almost entirely private, with only an expert wedding photographer documenting the celebration.
He previously told PEOPLE, “It will definitely be more family and friends — definitely more private. It’s going to be the final word option to take a while away and revel in things.”
That call reflects a consistent boundary Donaldson has maintained between his personal relationships and his online profession. While his philanthropy challenges, competitions, and business ventures usually dominate YouTube, Booysen has largely remained outside the highlight aside from occasional appearances alongside him.
The alternative of Necker Island also reinforced that desire for privacy. Owned by Richard Branson, the exclusive Caribbean retreat has long attracted high-profile guests searching for secluded celebrations and may accommodate private weddings of as much as 200 guests while remaining closed off from the general public.
Why Necker Island Has Turn into A Celebrity Wedding Destination
MrBeast and Booysen’s ceremony adds one other notable chapter to the history of Necker Island, one among the world’s best-known private luxury resorts.
Branson purchased the island a long time ago before transforming it into an exclusive destination known for hosting celebrities, entrepreneurs, and world leaders.
The island offers the whole lot from private beaches and luxury villas to wildlife experiences and water sports, making it a sought-after location for destination weddings and milestone celebrations.
Its wedding program allows couples to customize nearly every aspect of the celebration, from intimate beach ceremonies to larger events, while keeping the experience highly private.
For Donaldson, whose profession has largely unfolded in front of cameras, the secluded island provided a rare opportunity to have a good time one among life’s biggest moments away from the constant attention that accompanies being the world’s most-subscribed individual YouTuber.
The Newlyweds Are Already Looking Ahead
Despite finally becoming husband and wife, Booysen suggested their relationship will feel much the identical once the celebrations end.
She shared, “It sounds silly, but this is admittedly only a formality. Ever since we began dating we’ve been doing it with the goal of marriage. The difference is now the world knows we’re married, but we’ll still come home to our house and dogs and cats, after which we’re off to our next adventure!”
She also described the week as unforgettable, noting, “That is cliché, but it surely was heaven.”
Reflecting on having family members together in a single place, Booysen said, “We were so completely satisfied, and there was a lot love. We work lots and don’t get to be around all our family and friends, so to have everyone in a single place was really special.”
She added that the couple now hopes to create a brand new tradition by gathering family and friends for the same weeklong reunion yearly.
For Booysen, one memory stood above the whole lot else.
She revealed, “Jimmy really went out of his option to make all of the guests super comfortable and feel included, and got to know my clan, and it was all so incredibly special. It just made me love him all of the more.”
With the marriage now behind them, the newlyweds are turning their attention to the following adventure they’ve long envisioned together.