Welcome to Episode 123 of the Built on Purpose Podcast, brought to you by Y Scouts.
In this episode of the Built On Purpose podcast, Max Hansen interviews Maximillion Cooper, the founder of Gumball 3000. They discuss the evolution of Gumball from a road trip to a global lifestyle brand, blending automotive culture, motorsports, fashion, music, and philanthropy. Maximillion shares his background, from BMXing and skateboarding to modeling and racing cars, and how these experiences shaped the vision for Gumball 3000. They delve into the brand’s growth, its impact on culture, and future plans.
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💡 Timestamps:
00:54 Host Welcome & Episode Overview
01:56 What Is Gumball 3000?
08:07 Origin Story: The First Rally
09:16 Formula One Pivot Attempt
10:38 Media Breakthrough & Magazine Covers
12:36 Building a Culture-Driven Brand
14:15 Major Sponsorship Deals (PlayStation, Hot Wheels, Hasbro)
15:10 MTV Jackass Special Collaboration
17:00 Expanding the Rally’s Global Reach
20:00 Philanthropy & the Gumball Foundation
24:00 Surviving the Hand-to-Mouth Hustle
29:00 Celebrity & Influencer Stories
33:00 Personal Milestones & Family Life
38:00 Core Principles: Discipline & Vision
42:00 Keeping the Rally Fresh & Relevant
45:00 Closing Thoughts & What’s Next
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💡 What You’ll Learn:
✅ Gumball 3000 started as a road trip and evolved into a global lifestyle brand.
✅ It combines automotive culture with music, fashion, art, and philanthropy.
✅ The annual Gumball rally has become a mobile festival attracting hundreds of thousands of attendees.
✅ Maximillion Cooper’s diverse background in action sports, fashion, and motorsports influenced the creation of the brand.
✅ Gumball 3000 has expanded into various product lines, including video games, toys, books, and apparel.
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🔥 Memorable Quotes:
✨ “I feel like everyone participating on [Gumball] are my guests… and I should be taking care of you.” – Maximillion Cooper
✨ “The rally is a melting pot of adventurous people who want to connect. And that creates bonds that last a lifetime.” – Maximillion Cooper
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🔗 Resources:
🔗 Connect with Maximillion Cooper:
Official Website: https://www.gumball3000.com
Instagram (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/mrmaxcooper
Instagram (Gumball 3000): https://www.instagram.com/gumball3000
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximillioncooper
Twitter/X (Gumball 3000): https://twitter.com/gumball3000
Facebook (Gumball 3000): https://www.facebook.com/gumball3000
YouTube (Gumball 3000): https://www.youtube.com/user/Gumball3000Rally
📣 Connect with Max Hansen & Y Scouts:
Max Hansen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxhansen/
Max Hansen’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhansen44/
Y Scouts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yscouts
Y Scouts Website: https://yscouts.com
🎧 Listen now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfWKIoCTEzc
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Y Scouts is a leadership search firm that finds purpose-aligned and performance-proven leaders to help organizations achieve their missions faster. Ready to supercharge your leadership search and get the right person in your organization? Contact Y Scouts.
