Who are the contenders to take over TikTok? Elon Musk, MrBeast, and others vying for control of the platform
TikTok, the social network that has revolutionized digital content consumption, is facing an ultimatum in the United States. By order of Congress, its parent company, ByteDance, must sell the platform to a US owner or face a total ban in the country. This decision stems from concerns about national security, with fears that the Chinese government may have access to user data through ByteDance.
Potential Buyers: From Millionaires to Influencers
Among those interested in acquiring TikTok are figures from the technological, financial, and entertainment worlds. The world’s most successful content creator, Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, has expressed interest in acquiring TikTok. With over 500 million followers across his platforms, MrBeast has become a giant in the digital economy. In 2024, he earned around $85 million, according to Forbes. He is participating in the purchase as part of an investor consortium led by Jesse Tinsley, CEO of Recruiter.com. Donaldson has publicly stated: “America deserves TikTok,” suggesting that his intention is not only financial but also strategic.
Billionaire Frank McCourt, former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, leads The People’s Bid, a consortium seeking to transform TikTok into a platform focused on user privacy and empowerment. He has secured investment commitments of over $20 billion and aims to change the social media model, prioritizing data protection and transparency. He wants TikTok to belong in part to creators and users, rather than being controlled by a single corporation.
Tesla CEO and former owner of X (formerly Twitter), Elon Musk, has been mentioned as a possible buyer. Musk opposes the ban on TikTok, arguing that it goes against freedom of expression. He has criticized that TikTok can operate in the US, but X and other US platforms are banned in China. Although he has not confirmed his interest in the purchase, his history with Twitter/X makes him a natural candidate.
Larry Ellison, Oracle’s founder and chairman, is another name being mentioned in the sale discussions. Oracle already has a relationship with TikTok, as in 2020 it won a bid to provide its cloud infrastructure in the US. Although Ellison has not made recent public comments, his company is one of the most technically capable actors to manage TikTok without affecting its operation.
Two more names have emerged in the discussions about TikTok’s sale:
🔹 Steven Mnuchin, former US Treasury Secretary, who has openly expressed interest in acquiring the platform.
🔹 Bobby Kotick, former CEO of Activision, has discussed the possibility of the purchase with investors like Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI.
What will happen to TikTok?
The deadline for the sale of TikTok is approaching, and there is still uncertainty about its future.
ByteDance’s Decision on TikTok’s Sale
📌 Will ByteDance accept to sell the platform or seek an alternative solution?
📌 Who has the best strategy to acquire and operate TikTok in the U.S.?
📌 Will the platform change its course with a new owner?
Significance of the Outcome
With billions of dollars at stake and the fate of one of the most influential apps in the world hanging in the balance, the outcome of this story could change the future of digital entertainment.
