MrBeast Burger
Known as YouTuber MrBeast’s viral ghost-kitchen burger brand that collapsed into quality lawsuits.
- Entries
- 11
- On the record
- 2
- Stories
- 1
- Latest entry
- Aug 7, 2026
The record
MrBeast Burger is a virtual restaurant brand that YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson created with Virtual Dining Concepts, a Florida-based company founded by Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl. Existing restaurant kitchens prepare the menu, which customers order through delivery apps. The brand opened with a free pop-up event in Wilson, North Carolina, on November 19, 2020, and began selling across the U.S. that December.
Business Insider reported that the brand sold more than 1 million sandwiches in its first couple of months and expanded to over 1,000 restaurants in 2021, but that Donaldson's company owned only 50% of it. Citing court documents, the outlet reported that ghost-kitchen revenue fell from about $64 million in 2022 to about $45 million in 2023 as the partners fell out.
Donaldson and Virtual Dining Concepts have each sued the other in New York, and no court has decided either claim. In January 2026 a New York County Supreme Court judge let both cases proceed while urging the parties to settle, and as of August 2026 the case was ongoing while the brand kept operating. A first dine-in location runs at the American Dream complex.
Roles and honours on the record
- 2020 Virtual restaurant brand created by MrBeast with Virtual Dining Concepts, prepared in existing restaurant kitchens for delivery source
- as of 2023 50% owned by Jimmy Donaldson's company, per Business Insider source
- as of 2025 Dine-in restaurant at American Dream, described by the brand as the world's first MrBeast Burger restaurant source
Every entry, newest first
- Filed
Virtual Dining Concepts countersued, saying Donaldson "can renege and breach his contractual obligations without consequence." MrBeast sues, says burger partner trademarked his name unpaid
- Reported
Virtual Dining Concepts' lawyer Richard Edlin said Donaldson's lawsuit "is riddled with false statements and inaccuracies." MrBeast sues, says burger partner trademarked his name unpaid
- Filed
Christopher Hedgecock filed a class action against Virtual Dining Concepts, alleging a hidden $3.16 charge mislabeled as sales tax. MrBeast sues, says burger partner trademarked his name unpaid
Stories in this file
The record, entry by entry
- 2020-11-19 Official MrBeast and his friends hosted thousands of fans at a free pop-up MrBeast Burger event in Wilson, North Carolina, near his hometown of Greenville, according to the brand's website. MrBeast Burger, About page
- 2020-12 Reported MrBeast Burger began selling branded burger-and-fries combos through restaurants and commercial kitchens across the U.S., in partnership with the Florida-based Virtual Dining Concepts, NBC News reported. NBC News report
- 2021 Reported After selling over 1 million sandwiches in its first couple of months, the brand expanded to more than 1,000 restaurants, Business Insider reported. Business Insider report
- 2022 Reported The first physical MrBeast Burger restaurant opened, with Donaldson posing with fans at the opening, Business Insider reported. Business Insider report
- 2022-11 Reported Donaldson made the first of a series of attempts to acquire nearly all of the company from Virtual Dining Concepts, Business Insider reported; his company owned 50% of the brand. Business Insider report
- 2023 Reported MrBeast Burger's ghost-kitchen revenue fell from around $64 million in 2022 to about $45 million in 2023, according to court documents cited by Business Insider. Business Insider report
- 2026-01-29 Reported New York County Supreme Court Judge Jennifer Schecter ruled that both sides' cases could proceed, said she was skeptical about the damages each claimed, and urged them to consider a buyout or settlement, Business Insider reported. Business Insider report on the hearing
- 2026-08-07 Reported Business Insider described the lawsuit between Donaldson and his burger partner as ongoing and said the MrBeast Burger business continues, although Donaldson stopped promoting it after the dispute began. Business Insider report