Starbucks teams with social influencer 'MrBeast' in reality show
Starbucks is joining an increasingly long line of retailers that have partnered with a viral online sensation who goes by the pseudonym "MrBeast."
The coffee giant is participating in the second season of the reality competition show "Beast Games: Strong vs. Smart" on Prime Video on Wed., Jan. 7. Hosted by social media star Jimmy Donaldson, who uses the moniker “MrBeast” for his wildly-popular influencer activities, the series features 100 contestants competing in tests of strength and intelligence for a $5 million prize.
[READ MORE: Amazon teams with social influencer ‘MrBeast’ for reality competition]
Inside the show’s "Beast City" setting, contestants will have 24/7 access to a Starbucks store, and throughout the season some challenges will feature surprise prizes from Starbucks.
"The collaboration between Beast Games and Starbucks brings together two iconic communities loved worldwide," said Tressie Lieberman, global chief brand officer at Starbucks. "When contestants saw Starbucks on set, they said it felt like home – and that’s exactly what we hoped to deliver. We are thrilled that fans can participate too, and they are in for a treat with the Cannon Ball – a barista-created drink that became an instant hit with contestants and even made its way into a challenge."
Other retailers that have engaged in various promotional partnerships with MrBeast include Lowe’s, Safeway, and the American Dream shopping mall.
In celebration of the launch of the second season of "Beast Games," Starbucks is also adding the new Cannon Ball Drink, created for fans of the show, to its refreshers line of beverages, available for a limited time starting Wed., Jan. 14.
"The Beast Games competitors pushed themselves to the limit on a daily basis, so we were excited that Starbucks was up for the challenge of powering the competition and helping our contestants recharge in Beast City," said Beau Avril, senior VP of global media and partnerships at Beast Industries. "We can’t wait for fans everywhere to taste a little bit of the action with the new Cannon Ball Drink."
The second season of "Beast Games" premieres on Prime Video on Wed., Jan. 7, 2026, with three episodes at launch, followed by weekly episodes ending in a season finale on Wed., Feb. 25.
Starbucks also recently made a surprise appearance in MrBeast’s “30 Days in the Sky” challenge on YouTube, which debuted in December 2025. Josiah, a barista and Starbucks global coffee creator, joined MrBeast for a Starbucks delivery to the contestant with their favorite beverage and a chance to win a $50,000 Starbucks gift card.
