Jimmy Donaldson, widely known by his online moniker MrBeast, has filed a lawsuit against a former contractor, accusing him of breaching a confidentiality agreement, stealing sensitive company data, and secretly installing surveillance equipment throughout the company’s offices.
The legal complaint, initially reported by Polygon, was filed by Donaldson’s company, Beast Industries. The lawsuit alleges that former IT contractor Leroy Nabors, who worked with the company from early 2023 until the fall of 2024, unlawfully accessed and downloaded over a thousand confidential company documents, including financial data, strategic plans, and employee personal information. The lawsuit further claims that Nabors went so far as to install hidden cameras within the office space, raising serious concerns about employee privacy and internal security.
From IT Contractor to “Special Projects”
Nabors was first hired by Beast Industries in 2023 to help manage the company’s IT infrastructure, including servers that housed post-production content for MrBeast’s popular YouTube videos. According to the lawsuit, Nabors subcontracted a portion of his responsibilities to an outside company named Vine Networks, operated by his daughter. That partnership reportedly functioned without major issue, leading Beast Industries to promote Nabors to a new role within its “special projects” division.
In this new capacity, Nabors reportedly gained access to high-level operations and development teams working on initiatives such as content production, fundraising efforts, and even political advocacy—an unusual expansion of duties for someone originally brought in as an IT contractor.
However, Nabors’ time with the company ended on October 1, 2024. The lawsuit does not specify the circumstances surrounding his termination, but what followed has prompted Beast Industries to take the matter to court.
Alleged Data Theft and Unauthorized Surveillance
According to the legal filing, Beast Industries discovered that Nabors had downloaded more than 1,000 confidential files from the company’s Google Vault system on September 23, 2024—just eight days before his termination. These files allegedly included sensitive information such as internal business strategies, financial data, capitalization tables, legal agreements, and intellectual property related to MrBeast’s growing business empire.
Company representatives claim that Nabors anticipated his termination and attempted to secure valuable internal documents before his departure.
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More disturbingly, after Nabors was let go, employees reportedly found surveillance cameras hidden throughout the Beast Industries office space. According to the complaint, Nabors had a reputation among colleagues for covertly recording meetings, and it is alleged that he personally installed and operated the surveillance equipment. The lawsuit states that these actions created an environment of mistrust and potentially violated privacy laws.
A Pattern of Questionable Behavior
This is not the first time Nabors has faced legal scrutiny. A previous lawsuit filed in 2022 accused him of diverting millions of dollars from Edu-Net, an IT firm he founded, to HSC Solutions—a rival company managed by his daughter. The case, which also involved alleged breaches of fiduciary duty and business ethics, cast a shadow over his professional record and further complicates his defense in the MrBeast lawsuit.
The complaint against Nabors paints a picture of a contractor who not only abused his access but also exploited his expanded role for personal gain. Beast Industries is now seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief, as well as the return of all proprietary materials allegedly taken by Nabors.
MrBeast’s Legal Troubles Continue
The lawsuit against Nabors comes amid a wave of legal and public controversies surrounding MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson. The 26-year-old YouTube sensation, who is known for elaborate giveaways, large-scale stunts, and charitable efforts, has been involved in multiple legal disputes over the past year.
In 2024, contestants from Donaldson’s Amazon Prime show Beast Games filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and toxic workplace conditions during filming. The allegations prompted significant backlash and placed Donaldson’s production company under intense public and legal scrutiny.
In a separate incident, a former employee released a video online earlier this year describing Donaldson as a “sociopath” and accusing him of creating a hostile work environment. Donaldson responded by issuing a cease-and-desist order and threatening legal action. While the video went viral, sparking heated debates among fans and critics, it further fueled a narrative of growing discontent behind the scenes of the world’s most popular YouTuber’s empire.
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What’s Next for Beast Industries?
Despite these challenges, Beast Industries remains a significant force in digital media. With more than 250 million YouTube subscribers and a growing portfolio that includes merchandise, food brands, and philanthropic projects, Donaldson continues to expand his influence beyond the platform that made him famous.
Still, the lawsuit against Nabors underscores the risks that come with operating at such a large scale—and the potential vulnerabilities when sensitive business data is involved.
Beast Industries has not released an official statement regarding the lawsuit, and legal representatives for Nabors have not responded to media inquiries as of publication.
As the legal process unfolds, the case could have broader implications for digital media companies and content creators alike, particularly around issues of cybersecurity, employee trust, and the importance of safeguarding intellectual property in an increasingly competitive and litigious environment.
