YouTuber Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson said he would have pursued acquiring the “Hot Ones” show if approached, despite the $82.5 million price tag that host Sean Evans ultimately paid to purchase it from Buzzfeed in December 2024.

In a recent interview with Colin and Samir, Donaldson explained that while he lacked liquid capital due to ongoing business investments, he could have secured bank financing for the acquisition. The creator, who runs YouTube’s most-subscribed channel, cited his experience in consumer packaged goods (CPG) as a potential advantage for the show’s hot sauce business line.

“I would have actually really loved to help fund the show,” Donaldson stated. “Especially with how knee-deep I am in CPG. I could have shown him probably how to — two, three exit sales and the sauce, pretty quickly.”

Missed Connections

The potential deal, according to Donaldson, faced a simple obstacle: lack of communication. “[Evans] never reached out,” he said. “If he did, I probably would have.”

The discussion also revealed that the hosts of the YouTube series “Cold Ones” had previously explored the concept of purchasing “Hot Ones” with Donaldson in the summer of 2024, suggesting broader market interest in the property before Evans’ acquisition.

Despite never appearing on “Hot Ones” and acknowledging a strong aversion to spicy food, Donaldson expressed interest in expanding his media portfolio through such acquisitions. The creator currently extends his brand beyond YouTube, hosting Amazon Prime’s “Beast Games” reality show.

The “Hot Ones” series, known for viral moments featuring celebrities like Ice Spice, SZA, and Conan O’Brien, continues under Evans’ ownership following the December 2024 transaction. Evans, who co-created the show, completed the purchase after nearly a decade of hosting the interview series.