From scoping out the best vantage point for the Village Halloween Parade to lacing up a fresh pair of marathon-ready sneakers, there’s certainly no shortage of things to do in New York City this week. But why not add a citywide scavenger hunt with a quarter of a million dollars on the line to the mix?
You read that right. On Wednesday, October 28, IShowSpeed will be hiding somewhere in Manhattan, livestreaming the entire adventure as fans race to track him down and claim the life-changing cash prize. It’s all part of the grand finale of Dr. Squatch and Speed’s Million Dollar Mission, a nine-week global competition that has sent participants across cities worldwide to solve cryptic clues and compete for a share of $1 million.
And finding him won’t be as simple as spotting your favorite YouTuber in a crowd. Fans will have to piece together secret coordinates, follow clues, and keep their eyes peeled for Dr. Squatch characters scattered throughout the city, each offering additional hints that could bring them closer to the grand prize.
But who exactly is behind this mad dash for cash, and how does the whole thing work? Here’s your ultimate guide to the $250,000 hide-and-seek hunt taking over NYC.
Who is IShowSpeed?
Born Darren Watkins Jr., IShowSpeed (or simply Speed) is a 21-year-old internet phenomenon and one of the world’s most influential digital creators.
Known for his wildly chaotic livestreams, explosive high-energy antics, and passionate football fandom, Speed has built a massive global fanbase of tens of millions across YouTube and social media.
Whether traveling the world, barking at fans, or leaping over moving luxury cars on stream, his unscripted real-time adventures consistently draw hundreds of thousands of concurrent viewers.
What is Dr. Squatch and Speed’s Million Dollar Mission?
Launched in late August in collaboration with creative agency MSCHF, SPEEDRUN: Million Dollar Mission is a nine-week global interactive campaign from natural personal care brand Dr. Squatch and IShowSpeed.
Spanning 25 challenges across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia, the $1,000,000 prize pool was split across three ways to win: weekly “briefcase hunts” containing cash-backed golden soap bars, social media content missions, and Loot Box sweepstakes.
The Manhattan hide-and-seek hunt serves as the ultimate grand finale climaxing the multi-country game.
Inside the scavenger hunt
- The Livestream: Speed will be hiding somewhere in Manhattan on Wednesday afternoon, broadcasting his perspective live as the hunt unfolds.
- Coordinate Drops: As the stream progresses, Dr. Squatch will gradually release digits of Speed’s secret GPS coordinates to the public.
- On-the-Ground Clues: Fans looking for an edge can search the streets of NYC for street team actors dressed as Dr. Squatch characters, who will be handing out bonus coordinate fragments.
- The Grand Prize: The first fan (or team) to crack the full coordinates, navigate the city, and locate Speed in his secret hiding spot walks away with $250,000 in cash on the spot.
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