I had the opportunity to participate in Beast Games, where 2,000 contestants competed for a chance at a $5 million prize. The event was an intense and revealing look into how people behave when significant sums of money are on the line, from alliances to emotional reactions over financial stakes. My experience during this giant social experiment offered key financial lessons that go far beyond the game. Here, I’ll share five crucial insights I learned from my time in Beast Games.
People Can Be Irrational When It Comes To Money
One of the most striking things I observed during Beast Games was how irrational people can become regarding money. Even though 2,000 people were competing for a $5 million prize—giving each participant a 1 in 2,000 chance of winning—many acted as if they had already secured the money. This sense of entitlement often led to intense emotional reactions when they were eliminated. I observed people throw fits, curse, scream, and become enraged as if they believed the $5 million was already theirs. But each one of us only had a 0.05% chance of winning, a very small chance.
Some participants made extreme life decisions for this slim opportunity. After all, $5 million is a lot of money. Some people quit their jobs, risking almost everything, to fully commit to the idea of winning. They failed to factor in the reality that we were surrounded by a sea of equally motivated individuals. Odds don’t change even if one is fully committed, given everyone else who had made it thus far was equally committed. It’s as if people’s minds refused to acknowledge the slim chance of being the one person in 2,000 who would win the grand prize. This caused many to make foolish decisions regarding their situation back at home, and virtually everyone who got out was appalled as if you had truly taken $5 million from them.
This irrational attachment to potential wealth can explain the billions of dollars Americans spend on the lottery yearly even though the chances of winning are astronomically low. Or why others pursue high-risk, speculative investments, or get trapped by get-rick-quick schemes. This behavior is amplified when there are stories of success or when asset prices surge quickly, creating a fear of missing out that further clouds rational judgment.
Money Is Not The Only Currency
Money is typically seen as the most important form of currency. After all, it enables transactions, investments, and fulfilling basic needs. However, during Beast Games, I realized that other non-monetary currencies matter as much, if not more, in certain situations.
For example, information became the most important currency, especially in the beginning. Everyone was trying to figure out what was going on, such as what was the next challenge and when or where food was going to be. It was like ‘Did you know they were handing out breakfast bags?’ ‘It was on the third floor.’ ‘What? There was breakfast?’ Everyone was exchanging information. It was definitely the primary currency. Participants who knew crucial information held a distinct advantage. The same can be said for investments or businesses: having the correct information at the right time can mean the difference between success and failure.
Another currency was social capital—essentially the value of relationships. I was sharing information to everyone I knew. I was trying to help to make allies because building alliances, knowing who to trust, and leveraging relationships could give you an edge, even when money wasn’t involved. This mirrors real life, where connections often lead to opportunities or information that money can’t buy. In the professional world, knowing the right people or being part of the right network can open doors in ways that pure financial wealth cannot.
Even food became a commodity during Beast Games, with participants trading items like snacks or using them as leverage to foster relationships. Participants were trading vegetables for another food item or doing favors in exchange for extra food. People were like, ‘Hey I have some snacks from lunch. Do you want some?’ Food was like gold during Beast Games. It may have been because of the long hours of filming, or the third-party food provider being disorganized, but food also became a prized commodity during the event.
These experiences highlight the reality that while money is important, it’s not always the primary factor in achieving success or gaining an advantage. Social capital, information, and other non-monetary assets can be just as critical in specific scenarios.
People Will Do Anything For Money
Through MrBeast’s content, it’s clear that people are willing to go to extreme lengths for money. In his famous challenge videos, participants often engage in bizarre or physically demanding tasks for the chance to win thousands—or even millions—of dollars. Whether it’s surviving in a confined space for days or performing stunts, people push themselves to their limits for the promise of a reward.
I saw this firsthand during Beast Games. People became so emotionally invested in the competition that they were willing to go to extreme lengths to win, even if it meant compromising their or others’ well-being. At one point, tensions ran so high that a participant came close to physically assaulting someone on their team because they felt that person had jeopardized their chance to win.
It can also be seen in many of MrBeast’s Youtube videos, where people do crazy things for money, such as stay inside a circle for days, try to survive in the wilderness, or sit in a bathtub full of snakes.
This speaks to a broader financial truth: the allure of large sums of money can drive people to take significant risks or act in ways they normally wouldn’t. Whether it’s working long hours to the point of burnout, high-stakes gambling, taking risky investments, or even engaging in illegal activities. It’s important to recognize this tendency and find a balance. Yes, money is important, but it’s not worth compromising your health or others’ well-being.
People Are Greedy
Greed was a dominant motivator during Beast Games. For example, at one point, MrBeast offered $50,000 for one person to quit, but only if they eliminated 99 others (and I was one of those unlucky contestants at the 22:30 mark in this video). A participant tragically fell for the trap, only to discover the timer hadn’t even started. She didn’t get the money and earned the ire of the rest of us from her group because she sacrificed all our chances at the $5 million.
You can also see this in relation to the class-action lawsuit filed against Beast Games. From the outset, it was made clear that we were not getting paid for participating in Beast Games. There was no promise of compensation besides the chance to compete for the $5 million prize. It was a game show and the way I understood things is that you get paid only if you win.
Nonetheless, each eliminated contestant was given $1,000. Later, when production learned about logistical challenges like inadequate food and rest, they went out of their way to give an extra $1,000 to all 2,000 participants, which is an extra $2 million in payouts.
Despite these efforts, several participants filed a class-action lawsuit against MrBeast, his production team, and Amazon, citing mistreatment, among others. While it’s true that there was lack of food, inadequate sleep, and delays in getting our changes of underwear and socks, no one can argue the fact that we could have quit anytime. They had big red doors to the side of the stadium where anyone of us could have gone home at any point if we were too uncomfortable. We were not held against our will.
The money I received from the organizers was more than enough, especially since we were not promised anything. The lesson to learn is to set expectations clearly and in writing, and then deliver on those expectations, because even if you give people more than promised, some will always attempt to get more than they are given.
Money And Fame Can Be A Burden
Another key lesson is that success comes with its own set of challenges. As MrBeast’s rise to fame demonstrates, wealth and visibility attract not only admiration but also relentless scrutiny, jealousy, and criticism.
The aftermath of Beast Games made this abundantly clear. Despite the generosity shown by the organizers, including payouts to contestants and the immense effort behind the event’s production, critics and detractors quickly emerged.
MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, exemplifies the burden of being at the top. When you’re a leader, whether in content creation, business, or any other field, competitors and critics are always waiting for an opportunity to challenge or discredit you. Public figures, in particular, face relentless judgment—not just for their successes but often for their perceived shortcomings.
This reality gave me pause to reflect on Jimmy Donaldson’s situation. While having the biggest YouTube channel in the world might seem enviable, the level of scrutiny and constant attacks he faces is daunting. Seeing the backlash firsthand made me reconsider the allure of fame and fortune. It’s not all glamour; the emotional and mental toll can be significant.
For anyone pursuing success, it’s essential to recognize these challenges. Protecting mental health, maintaining personal relationships, and staying grounded are critical. Success may bring wealth and recognition, but it also comes with heightened responsibilities and pressures that few anticipate.
Final Thoughts
MrBeast’s videos are often one giant social experiment. My experience of Beast Games offers valuable insights into human behavior around money. Whether it’s understanding that money isn’t the only form of currency, recognizing the irrational ways people behave when money is at stake, or preparing for the costs that come with success, these lessons are applicable in both personal finance and business.
Managing financial ambition, setting realistic expectations, and maintaining a balanced perspective on wealth are key to long-term financial health. Whether you’re competing for millions or managing your day-to-day finances, these lessons from Beast Games are worth remembering.
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