As TikTok faces the possibility of banishment from U.S. shores, the hunt for a U.S.-based buyer to take over the app is in full swing. Various prominent figures, including tech billionaires, politicians, and even a YouTube sensation, have shown interest in acquiring the platform. With ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, under pressure to sell, the pugilists are entering the ring to duke it out for the app’s future. Let’s examine the primary contenders vying for control of TikTok and why this matters.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
ByteDance has been under increasing pressure to divest its ownership of TikTok in the U.S. or face potential bans. The U.S. government has raised concerns over national security and data privacy linked to TikTok’s ties with China. As a result, ByteDance has been forced to consider selling TikTok’s U.S. operations. Despite these pressures, ByteDance remains reluctant to sell, but the growing list of interested buyers suggests this may be a matter of when not if.
MrBeast and His Bid for TikTok
One of the most unexpected bidders for TikTok is Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, a popular YouTube creator with over 500 million followers. MrBeast, who is part of a syndicate of investors, has proposed an all-cash offer for TikTok. Donaldson has become vocal about his intent to buy the platform, claiming that “America deserves TikTok.” In a statement, he said that billionaires have already reached out to him to make the deal happen. Donaldson, who made $85 million in 2024, believes that owning TikTok could give him a place at the table and help safeguard the platform’s future in the U.S.
Frank McCourt’s ‘People’s Bid’
Another contender in the race is Frank McCourt, the real estate mogul and former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. McCourt leads a group known as The People’s Bid, a coalition of law firms, technologists, and academics who aim to purchase TikTok with a focus on empowering people and data within the platform. McCourt has secured over $20 billion in backing for this bid. His goal is to offer an alternative to the current big tech model, proposing that TikTok should be a platform that prioritizes user empowerment over corporate interests.
Elon Musk and Larry Ellison: Potential Buyers Backed by Trump
If Donald Trump had his way, Elon Musk or Larry Ellison would be the ones to acquire TikTok. Musk has expressed interest in owning TikTok, stating that a ban on the platform goes against freedom of speech. Musk also sees the imbalance in the current situation where TikTok is allowed to operate in the U.S. while X (formerly Twitter) is banned in China. While Musk has long opposed the TikTok ban, it is unclear whether he would take on the platform’s full operations.
Larry Ellison, the chairman of Oracle, was previously involved with TikTok in 2020, securing a deal to provide cloud services to the app. However, there has been no recent confirmation on whether Ellison is still pursuing the acquisition.
Other Suitors
Apart from these high-profile figures, Steven Mnuchin, the former U.S. Treasury Secretary, has reaffirmed his interest in investing in TikTok. Similarly, Bobby Kotick, the former CEO of Activision, is also rumored to be considering a bid, reportedly expressing interest at a conference dinner. Yesterday, Perplexity AI revised its merger proposal with TikTok — offering 50% ownership to the U.S. government and a minority stake for ByteDance.
These potential buyers have not confirmed any final agreements, but their interest underscores the high stakes. The future of TikTok’s operations in the U.S. hinges on which of these influential figures—or possibly others — are successful in acquiring the app.
TF Summary: What’s Next
The race to acquire TikTok is heating up as the deadline for a sale looms. As more high-profile figures throw their hats into the ring, including MrBeast, Frank McCourt, and Elon Musk, the stakes are high. While ByteDance remains resistant to a sale, the pressure from U.S. lawmakers and the growing backlash against TikTok’s operations in the U.S. may force their hand. In the coming months, expect more developments as these bids evolve, and the fate of TikTok in America is determined.
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