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YouTube star Jimmy Donaldson, better known as Mr Beast, has filed a lawsuit against a former IT employee, accusing him of stealing confidential business information and installing covert surveillance equipment at the company’s headquarters.
According to legal documents, the lawsuit targets Leroy Nabors, who was employed by the Mr Beast organisation in 2023. Before his dismissal in October that year, Nabors allegedly downloaded over 1,000 confidential files. The files are said to include sensitive materials such as business strategy, financial data, employee personal information, and intellectual property.
The complaint further claims that Nabors, through a subcontracted IT firm operated by his daughter, oversaw the installation of undisclosed cameras throughout the company’s Greenville, North Carolina premises. An internal investigation allegedly discovered the equipment prior to Nabors’ termination.
When confronted, Nabors reportedly said he was creating a backup for business continuity purposes. The legal filing disputes this, arguing the downloads were unauthorised and performed using a personal Dropbox account.
Donaldson is now seeking damages and a court order mandating the return of all improperly obtained company data.
Security and trust issues in spotlight for YouTube star
The civil case comes at a time when Donaldson’s business operations are facing increasing external and internal scrutiny. His company, which employs approximately 350 people, has also been the subject of a separate legal matter related to its popular Beast Games reality show on Amazon Prime.
In a class-action suit filed earlier this year, former contestants from the show alleged negligence and unsafe working conditions during filming. While Donaldson has dismissed those claims as exaggerated, the legal action added further complications to the public image of a business built on high-stakes entertainment and massive production scale.
Beast Games, which concluded its first season in February, featured a $10 million prize and attracted wide attention for its ambitious scope. The YouTube star has sought to maintain leadership over a rapidly expanding digital empire, which now includes streaming content, merchandise, and multiple high-revenue channels.
Implications for HR and compliance leadership
For HR and compliance leaders, the Mr Beast lawsuit underlines the potential risks associated with subcontracted IT roles, data governance, and internal surveillance. The legal claims raise questions about access control, employee monitoring, and the boundaries of acceptable data handling practices within high-profile digital companies.
It's a case that highlights the importance of proactive security policies, regular audits of third-party vendors, and robust exit procedures for technical staff with access to sensitive systems. As digital-first organisations continue to grow, so too do the risks surrounding internal information breaches and reputational exposure.
