MrBeast has officially entered a 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 career around massive productions watched by millions, he chose a strikingly different approach for one of 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 author Thea Booysen during an intimate ceremony attended by about 70 guests on Richard Branson’s 74-acre Necker Island in 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 spent time snorkeling, kitesurfing, and exploring the island’s wildlife, including its famous lemurs and flamingos. The ceremony itself was officiated by an ordained minister who is also a longtime family friend.
According to 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.
Rather 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 extensive menu featuring sushi, Wagyu beef, seafood, and a carrot cake selected because it is Booysen’s favorite.
MrBeast And Thea Booysen’s Romance Began In South Africa
Although millions know MrBeast through his YouTube empire, his relationship with Booysen started far 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, “When I met him, I was quite surprised how down-to-earth he was, and also how intelligent he was. I thought YouTubers were just sort of a persona, but when I met him, I was quite surprised to see that he’s actually a nice guy. He wasn’t sitting there with an ego.”
Donaldson recalled that they “vibed instantly” because of their shared curiosity and love of learning. After returning to the United States, he sent Booysen a direct message on X, beginning a long-distance relationship that eventually led to frequent international visits.
The couple made their first public appearance together at the Kids’ Choice Awards in April 2022 before Donaldson proposed on Christmas Day in 2024.
Looking back on the proposal, MrBeast explained, “I intentionally dropped a large box to make noise before presenting the real gift — with the ring inside — to her. And then I went down on a knee and proposed.”
MrBeast Chose Privacy Over A Viral Wedding
For someone whose videos routinely attract hundreds of millions of views, Donaldson deliberately avoided turning his wedding into online content.
Speaking before the ceremony, he revealed he wanted the day to remain almost entirely private, with only a professional wedding photographer documenting the celebration.
He previously told PEOPLE, “This will definitely be more family and friends — definitely more private. It will be the ultimate way to take some time away and enjoy things.”
That decision reflects a consistent boundary Donaldson has maintained between his personal relationships and his online career. While his philanthropy challenges, competitions, and business ventures regularly dominate YouTube, Booysen has largely remained outside the spotlight except for occasional appearances alongside him.
The choice of Necker Island also reinforced that desire for privacy. Owned by Richard Branson, the exclusive Caribbean retreat has long attracted high-profile guests seeking secluded celebrations and can accommodate private weddings of up to 200 guests while remaining closed off from the public.
Why Necker Island Has Become A Celebrity Wedding Destination
MrBeast and Booysen’s ceremony adds another notable chapter to the history of Necker Island, one of the world’s best-known private luxury resorts.
Branson purchased the island decades ago before transforming it into an exclusive destination known for hosting celebrities, entrepreneurs, and world leaders.
The island offers everything 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 career has largely unfolded in front of cameras, the secluded island provided a rare opportunity to celebrate one of 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 same once the celebrations end.
She shared, “It sounds silly, but this is really just a formality. Ever since we started 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, and then we’re off to our next adventure!”
She also described the week as unforgettable, noting, “This is cliché, but it was heaven.”
Reflecting on having loved ones together in one place, Booysen said, “We were so happy, and there was so much love. We work a lot and don’t get to be around all our friends and family, so to have everyone in one place was really special.”
She added that the couple now hopes to create a new tradition by gathering family and friends for a similar weeklong reunion every year.
For Booysen, one memory stood above everything else.
She revealed, “Jimmy really went out of his way to make all the guests super comfortable and feel included, and got to know my extended family, and it was all so incredibly special. It just made me love him all the more.”
With the wedding now behind them, the newlyweds are turning their attention to the next adventure they have long envisioned together.
