'I'm Going to Be Working Until I'm Like 94': Dad Loses Job After Son Buys $118,000 in Minecraft Ads

David Sarkisyan, who goes by Dave, says he lost his job after his nine-year-old son allegedly spent $118,479.83 (£88,493.73) on YouTube advertising for Minecraft and Roblox videos using a company credit card.

Dave says the company is seeking repayment within 30 days, while he and his wife have discussed selling their home.

How the Minecraft Ads Bill Escalated

The latest development came after Dave posted an update on the Mighty Mike Plays YouTube channel on 19 September. He said his employer had ended his employment following an internal review, but declined to discuss the details because he had signed an agreement.

The employment decision has not been independently confirmed by the company. Dave is also the source of the claim that he must repay the money within 30 days.

'Jobs come and go. I've worked my whole life. I'll find another job,' Dave said. 'I've got two hands, I'm healthy, I'm capable of working.'

More significantly, Dave said the company was seeking repayment of 'a little over 118,000.' He said he and his wife had discussed selling their home to meet the demand.

'That's where our family live,' he said. 'That's where the kids live. That's where our memories are.'

The original account, reported from Dave's earlier video, was that he had saved his company card to a Google account. His son, known online as MightyMikePlays67, also used the account.

Dave said he had initially intended to create a promotion costing about $20 after the boy complained that his videos were attracting few viewers. Instead, he said, further campaigns were created over roughly three weeks to promote Minecraft and Roblox gameplay.

The $118,479.83 figure remains based primarily on Dave's public account. A screenshot he shared appeared to show an American Express Business Gold Rewards Card with a statement balance of that amount. However, the image does not independently establish who owned the account, which charges were made or whether it had been altered.

Google says a payments profile can store payment information and may be reused across Google products, including Google Ads. That documentation explains how stored payment details can be available for advertising transactions, but does not verify what happened in this case.

Why Mighty Mike Plays Has Drawn Scrutiny

The story gained attention after viewers began seeing promoted videos featuring the child's gaming content. Tom's Hardware reported that three videos had reached about 200,000 views, while the channel had roughly 24,000 subscribers and 182 uploads when the original account emerged.

The latest update has intensified online scrutiny of the story. Dave said people had offered jobs, financial assistance and media interviews, but he rejected the idea of setting up a fundraising page.

'We do not have a Mighty Mike coin. We don't have a 67 coin. We don't have any coins. No crypto. We don't have a GoFundMe,' he said.

Dave also said fundraising pages had appeared that were not authorised by the family. He urged viewers not to send money or connect cryptocurrency wallets to anyone claiming to represent them.

Instead, the family promoted a merchandise website. Dave said it contained 14 designs, although only three were initially available. Dexerto later reported that some designs were AI-assisted and that shirts were priced between $67 and $97 (£50.04 and £72.45).

The merchandise has also become part of the online debate. Some viewers have viewed it as a way to support the family, while others have questioned the decision to sell merchandise during the dispute.

The available reporting does not independently establish that the family fabricated the advertising bill. At the same time, the public evidence does not independently verify the full $118,479.83 claim.

Online commentary describing the episode as a scam remains speculation, not proof.

The Mighty Mike Plays channel later disabled comments. Dave attributed the decision to the level of criticism directed at the family, including criticism surrounding the use of AI-assisted designs.

Dave said the merchandise was intended to give supporters something in exchange for their money rather than asking them for direct donations. He has not announced a GoFundMe campaign or cryptocurrency fundraiser.

During the update, Dave and his son also joked about the number '67,' which features in the child's online identity. When Dave asked whether the boy understood the joke, the child said it was something that made people laugh.

Dave then linked the number to the family's financial situation.

'That's retirement age for the general public, but not for your old man,' he said. 'After this situation, apparently, I'm going to be working until I'm like 94.'

Dave also said company representatives had warned that the matter could become a legal issue if the money was not repaid. He said he was not aware of any lawsuit having been filed and described legal action as a possibility rather than an established proceeding.

No court filing was identified in the reporting reviewed. The employer has not publicly commented on Dave's account, leaving the employment decision, repayment demand and precise advertising total unconfirmed.