YouTube sensation MrBeast has announced his engagement to Thea Booysen. The social media star, 26, real name James Donaldson, popped the question to gaming streamer Booysen, 27, on Christmas Day. MrBeast - whose channel has the highest number of YouTube subscribers in the world at 340million - has been dating Booysen since 2022.
![[The social media star, 26, real name James Donaldson, popped the question to gaming streamer Booysen, 27, on Christmas Day]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/01/21/93656337-0-image-a-14_1735766939544.jpg)
He told People: 'My family flew out from South Africa for Christmas and we were going to do Christmas in our house so both families were here. We were opening presents, and then for the very last present he asked me to close my eyes because it was a surprise.
'I intentionally dropped a large box to make noise before presenting the real gift — with the ring inside — to her. And then I went down on a knee and proposed.'. 'I was trying to think of the best way to catch her off guard so it would be a surprise. Thea is really close to her family, so I wanted to make sure that they were included in this momentous occasion. Christmas worked out great because they were in town from the other side of the world.'.
YouTube sensation MrBeast has announced his engagement to Thea Booysen - pictured December 18. In contrast to his spectacular videos, the star said he wanted the proposal to be intimate. Booysen's ring is a 'beautiful' diamond on a rose gold band with additional diamonds on each side.
The pair first connected when MrBeast visited Booysen's native South Africa when a mutual friend invited them both to dinner. The couple are now eagerly planning a tropical wedding - and after holidaying on Richard Branson's Necker Island, have taken inspiration for their big day.
