"Would You Fly to Paris for a Baguette?" is a YouTube Short by American YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, known on the platform as MrBeast. The video features Jonathan Lee flying to Paris and retrieving a baguette for Donaldson in exchange for $300. The video was published on December 9, 2022. It received over 1 billion views and 47 million likes within a year, becoming MrBeast's most-viewed video and the second-most-liked video on YouTube.
Background
Jimmy Donaldson created the YouTube channel MrBeast in 2012,[1] later rising to popularity in 2017 through viral stunts and challenges.[2] He became one of the most-subscribed YouTube channels, reaching over 118 million subscribers by 2022 as the top solo creator.[3]
Video
Duke University, the location where Donaldson and Lee first meet
"Would You Fly to Paris for a Baguette?" begins with Donaldson visiting Duke University,[4] asking a stranger if she would fly to Paris and bring back a baguette for $100. She declines the offer.[3] He raised the offer to $300 for the next person he encountered, which was accepted by student Jonathan Lee.[5] Lee promptly packed a suitcase and boarded the flight to Paris,[6] purchasing a dozen baguettes at Maison Bergeron upon arrival. Several days are spent sightseeing as Lee rode a carousel and visited the Mona Lisa and Eiffel Tower.[7] He then returned on a flight to the United States, where he gave the baguettes to Donaldson and received a stack of $100 bills in return.[8]
Production
After Lee accepted the offer, a same-day expenseless flight was booked in front of him by Donaldson. Lee then returned home to inform his parents, email professors, and pack his belongings. A cameraman, producer, and translator were hired by Donaldson to accompany him on the trip, spending six days in Paris. On three separate days, Lee was filmed buying a dozen baguettes from a bakery for 36 total, while the crew spent other days filming for other MrBeast videos.[4]
Release and reception
Donaldson in 2022
The video was published to the MrBeast YouTube channel on December 9, 2022. Within a year, the video reached 1 billion views and became MrBeast's most-viewed video.[7] As of July 2024[update], "Would You Fly to Paris for a Baguette?" remains the most-liked YouTube short and non-music video on YouTube,[9][10] while being the second-most-liked video overall on the platform with over 51 million likes.[8][11] Donaldson received praise for the video's international accessibility, having audio tracks available in 28 different languages.[7]