Egypt’s pyramids are no longer just for tourists. High-profile events, including luxury weddings and YouTube productions, now take place at the iconic site.
The Egyptian government rents out the ancient wonders to boost tourism and revenue. However, these events raise concerns about preserving the historical significance of the pyramids.
MrBeast rents pyramids for a YouTube adventure
YouTube star MrBeast took his content creation to a historic level. He told Olympian Noah Lyles on his “Beyond the Records” podcast he’s renting not one, but three Egyptian pyramids for 100 hours to film an upcoming video.
MrBeast, who’s real name is James Donaldson, worked with the Egyptian government to gain access to the site, providing him a rare opportunity to explore areas typically closed to the public.
Point phone camera here
Lavish weddings at the pyramids
Egypt’s pyramids also host high-end weddings. In April, Ankur Jain, CEO of Bilt Rewards, married former WWE wrestler Erika Hammond at the pyramids. Guests enjoyed a four-day event with private access to tombs and the Sphinx.
Attendees like real estate mogul Ryan Serhant shared the celebration on social media, including a Met Gala-themed dinner at the Grand Egyptian Museum, an attraction that had yet to open to the public.
While renting out the pyramids brings much-needed revenue and tourism to Egypt, it has sparked controversy. Heritage experts and the public worry that these exclusive events could damage the site’s historical value.
Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities recently faced criticism over a project to reassemble ancient blocks of the pyramids, leading to the suspension of the project for further review.
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The balancing act of preservation and tourism
The debate over commercialization versus preservation continues as Egypt hosts these high-profile events. MrBeast’s 100-hour pyramid rental serves as one example of how the site generates income. However, it remains unclear how Egypt will balance tourism with protecting its historical treasures for future generations.
[KENNEDY FELTON]
YouTuber MrBeast is taking content creation to historic heights – literally. He’s renting out not one, but three Egyptian pyramids for 100 hours for an upcoming video. And if you think the ancient wonders are reserved only for the most-subscribed YouTubers – think again…
It turns out Egypt has been using the pyramids as a way to generate some serious cash, allowing people to host high-profile events like lavish weddings.
This April, CEO of Bilt Rewards Ankur Jain married former WWE wrestler Erika Hammond there, where guests were treated to a four-day experience.
“We got to roam around the pyramids, go into the tombs, and go see the Sphinx without any other tourists,” said Ryan Serhant, a real estate mogul who documented parts of the event on social media. The event included a Met Gala-themed dinner at the Grand Egyptian Museum, which hadn’t even opened to the public yet.
While the Egyptian government welcomes certain controlled activities like renting out their pyramids to generate revenue and boost tourism, it comes with controversy from the general public and heritage experts who say this goes against the work of preserving the historical site.
Earlier this year, the head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities announced a project to reassemble blocks of the pyramids that ancient Egyptian builders didn’t complete. The project sparked public outcry, fearing it would compromise the structure’s historical value. The three Great Pyramids of Giza – built in 2500 BCE – are the only ones of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that still remain. Egypt aborted the project in February saying they would review the work and only resume after a year of further assessment.
But back to MrBeast, who shared details of his Egypt expedition with Olympian Noah Lyles on his “Beyond the Records” podcast.
MrBeast said, “They’re going to let me explore anywhere I want in the pyramids for 100 hours. We’re going to sleep at the pyramids all to ourselves.” Lyles asked, “How’d they okay that?” MrBeast replied, “We worked with the Egyptian government.”
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