MrBeast is offering someone a million dollars if they can solve the puzzle he's posing to them in his Super Bowl advert.
The content creator, real name Jimmy Donaldson, has a reputation for offering people hoops to jump through in exchange for the chance of winning a big prize, though some of his challenges have been a bit controversial.
This latest one he's offering is a million dollars in his Super Bowl commercial if you can solve some puzzles, as he's doing an ad for Salesforce where some of the things he wants you to solve are featured in it.
Obviously, this is an advert so MrBeast said you could use Salesforce's AI to help you solve the puzzle, and he said the money will go to the first one to message him with the hidden code over Slack.
Advert
However, if you're not a legal citizen of the US, Canada or Mexico, then this offer isn't available to you, and even if you are then the competition closes on 2 April so you'd better get your puzzling hat on sooner rather than later.
If you think you have what it takes, then there is a right answer out there somewhere and someone has got to win it, it might as well be you.
The content creator had actually said late last year (29 December): "I've been sitting on an amazing Super Bowl commercial idea for years. I know it’s random but someone please let me make your brand's Super Bowl commercial so I can finally make this idea happen."
A couple of days later the Salesforce boss Marc Benioff responded and it seems to have taken off from there.
Despite having built a massive online following for his challenges and giveaways, he had recently claimed he had 'negative money' in his bank account despite having a staggering net worth.
He told the Wall Street Journal 'no one ever believes anything I say' about how much money he actually has because he spends the actual money he has on his new videos and your net worth isn't how much cash you have in the bank.
Meanwhile, in the Super Bowl where his advert showed the Seattle Seahawks were utterly dominant as they thrashed the New England Patriots 29-13, though in truth the difference between the two teams was wider than the scoreline would suggest.
Bad Bunny was the halftime show act and teamed up with Lady Gaga for a celebrated performance, while a couple appeared to actually get married live on camera.
If you end up winning MrBeast's million dollar prize, then you might just about be able to afford a ticket to next year's Super Bowl, and even have a little bit left over to afford a drink or a snack.
Most controversial Super Bowl ads
Nowadays, Super Bowl ads almost rival the game itself, with brands willing to fork out millions to secure a coveted spot during one of the most-watched events on TV.
However, over the years, some have sparked controversy, provoking heated debates and public backlash.
Let's take a look back at some of the most controversial Super Bowl commercials…
Carl’s Jr.: All Natural Burger (2015)
Featuring model Charlotte McKinney walking through a market wearing little clothing and gaining a lot of attention from men, the fast food chain’s ad was criticised for objectifying women.
If that wasn’t enough, last year, influencer Alix Earle donned a bikini top to promote the company’s ‘Hangover Burger’ in a commercial that TV watchdogs likened to ‘soft core porn’.
PETA: Last Longer (2016)
Ahead of Super Bowl 50, PETA submitted a racy commercial that compared the sexual stamina of a meat-eating couple and a vegan couple. It ultimately didn’t make the cut as it was deemed too explicit for TV.
GoDaddy: Journey Home (2015)
The controversial ad followed a puppy’s journey home after falling off a pick-up truck, only to find that his owners had sold him using a GoDaddy site.
After receiving backlash from animal rights organisations, GoDaddy’s then-CEO, Blake Irving, announced: “What should have been a fun and funny ad clearly missed the mark and we will not air it.”
Groupon: Save the Money - Tibet (2011)
Groupon’s commercial received criticism after appearing to make light of Tibet’s political situation.
“The Tibetan people are in trouble,” actor Timothy Hutton said in a voiceover. “Their very culture is in jeopardy.”
Cutting to a shot of Hutton in a restaurant, he added: “But they still whip up an amazing fish curry. And since 200 of us bought on Groupon.com, we're getting $30 worth of Tibetan food for just $15.”
A blog post from the company explained: “Since we grew out of a collective action and philanthropy site (ThePoint.com) and ended up selling coupons, we loved the idea of poking fun at ourselves by talking about discounts as a noble cause. So we bought the spots, hired mockumentary expert Christopher Guest to direct them, enlisted some celebrity faux-philanthropists, and plopped down three Groupon ads before, during, and after the biggest American football game in the world."
Yeezy (2025)
Days after making a series of highly offensive antisemitic tweets, Kanye West appeared in a bizarre ad for his Yeezy brand. While it did not air nationally, those who did see it were left outraged.
“So what’s up, guys, I spent, like all the money for the commercial on these new teeth. So once again, I had to shoot it on the iPhone,” he said while lying in a dentist's chair, before telling viewers to ‘go to Yeezy.com’.
Shockingly, the website was selling t-shirts with a swastika on them.
Nationwide: Boy (2015)
Nationwide’s tragic ad featured a young boy talking about the life experiences he’d never get to have because he died in an accident.
After being met with outrage from unsuspecting viewers, the company said the message ‘was to start a conversation, not sell insurance’.
“We want to build awareness of an issue that is near and dear to all of us-the safety and well-being of our children,” it added.
General Motors: Robot (2007)
The 60-second commercial showed an assembly line robot jumping off a bridge after being dismissed by General Motors.
Although it turned out to be a dream, viewers slammed the visual depiction of suicide, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention called it ‘inappropriate’.
Groupon: Save the Money - Rainforest (2011)
Part of the same campaign as Groupon’s Tibet ad, the Elizabeth Hurley-fronted commercial was accused of trivialising Brazil’s deforestation after seemingly comparing it to a Brazilian bikini wax.
Groupon founder Andrew Mason said the ad was not meant to cause offence, and was aimed at highlighting important causes.
Topics: MrBeast, Super Bowl, Money, US News, Sport
Joe Harker