MrBeast's claim he was free to explore the Giza Pyramids has been rubbished by Egyptian authorities.
The YouTuber claimed on a podcast with Olympian Noah Lyles he rented the ancient landmarks for a video shoot. “We got all three of the pyramids of Egypt for 100 hours,” he said. "I’m gonna do a video where they let me explore anywhere I want in the pyramids."
Now released, the video depicts he and his fellow vlogger friends, Chandler Hallow, Karl Jacobs and Nolan Hansen, exploring the Pyramids of Giza.
However, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities moved quickly to deny the claims. In a Facebook post, the body said the assertions were false and he was not granted permission to rent the pyramids. Instead, he was permitted to shoot outside of work hours and none of the historical spaces were closed to the public.
The statement also adds that MrBeast has finished shooting there and the videos are in line with their guidelines for the promotion of Egyptian tourism because they showcase "the majestic beauty of Egypt’s archaeological wonders". It concludes by saying MrBeast and his filming crew were accompanied by on-site archaeologists throughout the shoot.
MrBeast, real name Jimmy Donaldson, runs the most subscribed channel on YouTube with more than 330 million fans. He rose to fame with his fast-paced videos that often included challenges with the winners earning large sums of money. He also has the third most followed account on TikTok with more than 104 million fans, as well as more than 30 million followers on X, formerly Twitter.
Can you rent the Giza pyramids?
In October, American entrepreneur Ankur Jain married former wrestling star Erika Hammond in an opulent setting in front of the pyramids. The videos and pictures shared across social media went viral, with many wondering how much everything cost.
While the couple’s lavish wedding was in front of the pyramids, they weren't near or inside any of them. The space in front of the historical monuments is available to rent – whether for weddings or video shoots – with the rules having been set by the Egyptian government as recently as 2022.
According to Egypt Independent, the wedding cost close to $3 million. It was officiated by Egyptologist and former minister of tourism and antiquities Zahi Hawass, who the couple had first met during a trip to the area in 2023.
Posting on his blog, Hawass said of the wedding ceremony: “Egypt has gained a lot of publicity from this wedding and the star-studded guest list of attendees. This shows how Egypt is safe and it’s the best destination for such a great event.”
The space is likely to be what MrBeast rented Many Hollywood films have also shot scenes at the plateau, including The Spy Who Loved Me, the original Death on the Nile and The Bucket List.
In December 2022, French fashion house Dior staged a show in front of the pyramids to showcase its Celestial autumn 2023 menswear collection. The 25-minute fashion show began in darkness and silence before the pyramids and runway lit up.
Egyptian authorities have a list of prices for filming at historical spaces, with the cost rising for those wishing to shoot outside of working hours. The prices also differ between Egyptians and foreigners, with foreigners paying a higher price. For example, it costs $11 for Egyptians and $98 for foreigners to film at the plateau during work hours. The prices also differ for particular areas and rise depending on how many people are present during the shoot.
