Official announcements from ByteDance or bidding parties, major news outlets

MrBeast Joins Bid to Acquire TikTok's U.S. Operations Amid 75-Day Deadline and Ban Threat

Jan 22, 2025, 12:39 AM

MrBeast, the internet's most-followed and highest-earning content creator with over 346 million YouTube subscribers, has joined a group of American investors led by Jesse Tinsley, founder of Employer.com, in an all-cash bid to acquire TikTok's U.S. operations. This move comes amidst a 75-day deadline extension by President Trump for ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, to sell its U.S. operations or face a national ban due to security concerns. The consortium, which includes institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals, aims to ensure TikTok's continued operation for its 170 million U.S. users while addressing national security issues. The group has not disclosed the bid amount but asserts that their proposal offers a solution that benefits all parties. TikTok briefly went offline recently due to the looming ban. Other potential buyers, including Elon Musk, Frank McCourt, and Kevin O'Leary, have also expressed interest in acquiring TikTok. ByteDance has publicly stated its reluctance to sell the platform, leaving the future of TikTok in the U.S. uncertain.