MrBeast, the popular YouTuber, is reportedly part of a consortium attempting a $20 billion+ bid for TikTok. This group, which includes Jesse Tinsley (Employer.com founder), Roblox CEO David Baszucki, and Nathan McCauley (Anchorage Digital), estimates the acquisition will cost $25 billion.
While TikTok's owner, ByteDance, has declared its U.S. operations are not for sale, and the Tinsley-led group hasn't received a direct response, MrBeast's representatives confirm ongoing discussions with various parties. MrBeast aims to join the leading bidder, potentially shifting alliances depending on the situation's evolution. He tweeted on January 22nd, expressing excitement about the potential partnership and hinting at significant developments.
Earlier this week, President Trump mentioned Microsoft's purported negotiations to acquire TikTok, anticipating a bidding war. Microsoft hasn't verified this claim.
Prior to a January 19th deadline mandating a sale or ban due to national security concerns, TikTok was briefly taken offline for its 170 million U.S. users following the Supreme Court's rejection of an appeal based on First Amendment grounds. The court acknowledged common data practices but cited TikTok's scale, susceptibility to foreign influence, and the sensitive data it collects as justification for the government's national security concerns. Service was restored after assurances from President Trump that penalties would be avoided.
TikTok stated this was a victory for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship, pledging to collaborate with President Trump on a long-term solution to maintain its U.S. presence. Following his inauguration on January 20th, President Trump issued an executive order delaying enforcement of the law by 75 days. He's engaging in discussions with multiple entities regarding a potential TikTok buyout, including Elon Musk.
