ByteDance had the obligation to sell TikTok before January 19 or face a ban in the United States. Despite a temporary shutdown of the app over the weekend, Trump extended the sale deadline by 75 days with an executive order on January 20, his first day in office.
The Chinese company has been reluctant to sell TikTok, but potential buyers like Frank McCourt, former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank, have made formal offers. Amazon, Oracle, and the well-known content creator MrBeast have also expressed interest in acquiring the social network.
MrBeast, along with other investors, has been part of a group seeking to buy TikTok before a possible ban, following Trump’s support for potential purchases. This group submitted a cash offer and high-profile names like Elon Musk, evaluated by the Chinese government as a potential buyer, have joined.
Various groups, including one led by Jesse Tinsley, have mobilized to acquire TikTok following a court decision that forces ByteDance to divest its operations in the United States for national security reasons. Trump has suggested Musk and Ellison from Oracle as potential buyers in a joint venture with the U.S. government.
MrBeast's team has not responded to requests for comment, as negotiations and speculations among interested parties continue. Amid uncertainty and changes in deadlines, the sale of TikTok in the United States remains a topic of interest and debate in business and political circles.
