Digital influencer Jimmy Donaldson, widely known as MrBeast and one of the biggest global YouTube personalities, officially announced his union with fellow content creator Thea Booysen, both 28 years old. The ceremony, described as “intimate”, took place on stunning Necker Island, owned by businessman Richard Branson, in the presence of 70 friends and family. Celebrations began the week of July 14, 2026, and spanned an entire week at this exclusive 74-acre resort, combining wedding vows with days filled with festive activities.
After several days of guests socializing and enjoying the activities offered by the island, such as kitesurfing, snorkeling, and even feeding the lemurs and flamingos that inhabit the place, the couple exchanged rings in a ceremony led by an ordained minister, who was also a family friend.
For the special occasion, bride Thea Booysen chose an exclusive dress from Nicole + Felicia Couture, while Jimmy Donaldson wore an elegant tuxedo from Ralph Lauren.
Booysen’s look was created using a bridal robe by Banke Kuku, makeup by Lola’s Beauty Mark and hairstyle by Mikey Lu. The entire design of the bride’s look was designed by Jeremy Noig, with the entire week of festivities planned by renowned event planner Marcy Blum. The soundtrack and entertainment were provided by On the Move Entertainment.
After sealing their vows, the newlyweds made their entrance to the reception and performed their first dance to the song “Die With a Smile”, by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. After a lively night of dancing with a live band, guests headed to the main house to continue the celebration, which Booysen jokingly described as “nerdy stuff,” including card and board games.
At the reception, those present were treated to a vast and “incredible” variety of dishes. The menu included options such as sushi, Wagyu beef and different types of fish. For the wedding cake, they opted for carrot flavor, Thea Booysen’s favorite.
Donaldson and Booysen met in 2022 when he was visiting her home country of South Africa. During the trip, MrBeast went to dinner with a mutual friend, who invited Thea to join them.
Recalling the encounter, Thea Booysen expressed her surprise at Jimmy’s personality. “When I met him, I was quite surprised by how ‘down to earth’ he was, and also by his intelligence,” she said. “I thought YouTubers were just some kind of persona, but when I met him, I was quite surprised to see that he’s actually a nice guy. He wasn’t there with an ego.”
MrBeast stated that the connection between them was “instant” and that they both bonded over their passion for learning. Feeling a “strong connection,” MrBeast privately messaged Booysen on X (formerly Twitter) after returning to the United States. About a month later, the couple began a long-distance relationship and began planning dates.
The couple’s first public appearance took place at the Kids’ Choice Awards in April 2022. Booysen described the event as an “incredible night” in an Instagram post.
MrBeast proposed on Christmas Day 2024, at the couple’s residence, surrounded by both their families, who were aware of the surprise.
He described the moment of the proposal: “I intentionally dropped a large box to make a noise before presenting the actual gift — with the ring inside — to her. And then I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me.”
Despite being one of the most popular and highest paid content creators in the world, MrBeast had previously commented that he did not want his big day to be the center of attention. He chose not to have cameras other than that of his professional wedding photographer, prioritizing intimacy.
Explaining his wedding decision, he said the celebration would be “definitely more for family and friends — definitely more private.” The goal was for it to be the ideal way to “take time and enjoy things” away from the spotlight.
The couple agrees that the event could not have been more perfect, exceeding all expectations.
“This is cliché, but it was heaven,” Booysen said of the experience. She added: “We were so happy, and there was so much love. We work so hard and can’t be around all of our friends and family, so having everyone in one place was really special. We decided we want to start doing something like this every year, setting aside a week for our friends and family to join us to spend time together, and all the guests said the same thing.”
Now, MrBeast and Thea Booysen are preparing for a new phase as husband and wife, full of expectations for the future.
“It sounds silly, but this is really just a formality,” Booysen commented on the wedding. “Ever since we started dating, we’ve done it with the goal of getting married. The difference is now the world knows we’re married, but we’ll still go back to our house, our cats and dogs, and then we’ll move on to the next adventure!”
Of Jimmy’s dedication on the special day, she added, “Jimmy really went out of his way to make all of the guests super comfortable and included, and he made sure to meet my extended family. It was all incredibly special and only made me love him even more.”
