A Moment of Celebration and a Bold Move

On December 18, 2024, YouTube and TikTok superstar MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) celebrated the premiere of Prime Video’s Beast Games at a special content creator screening in Santa Monica, California. Just weeks later, he found himself in the spotlight once again, this time for making a bold business move: teaming up with a group of investors to purchase TikTok. This follows the growing threat of a nationwide ban on the app unless its ownership is shifted to a non-China-based entity.

A Joking Proposal with Serious Intent

The conversation began on January 13, 2025, when MrBeast tweeted:

“Okay fine, I’ll buy Tik Tok so it doesn’t get banned.”

Although the message seemed lighthearted and comedic, his lawyer confirmed to CNN that Donaldson was serious. As the most popular YouTuber and third-most-followed TikTok star globally, His words carried significant weight. Just days later, Donaldson posted a TikTok video elaborating on the situation, saying: “I just got out of a meeting with a bunch of billionaires. we mean business… We want to buy the platform.”

Donaldson, alongside a consortium of high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors, led by Jesse Tinsley—CEO of Employer.com—has formalized an offer to purchase TikTok. The group’s proposal aims to resolve national security concerns while maintaining TikTok’s operations and ensuring continued access for its 170 million U.S. users.

The Countdown: A Looming Deadline

This offer arrives in the wake of a 75-day deadline imposed after a Supreme Court ruling upheld federal legislation demanding the platform be sold to a non-China-based entity, or face a nationwide ban. TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, had previously resisted the idea of selling but now faces mounting pressure to comply.

On January 20, 2025, briefly went offline as a direct consequence of the impending ban, with a message displayed to users in the U.S.:

“Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use for now.”

However, just hours later, TikTok was back online after President Trump announced that he would sign an executive order to delay the ban for 75 days. This delay gives TikTok some breathing room, but it does not provide a permanent solution to the platform’s uncertain future.

The consortium led by he and Tinsley insists that their offer presents a “win-win” scenario: they believe it will preserve as an essential platform while addressing national security concerns that have driven the debate. They also emphasize that under their proposal, TikTok’s day-to-day operations would continue uninterrupted, keeping its massive user base in the U.S. connected.

Other Contenders and TikTok’s Value

he’s bid is not the only one on the table. Reports have surfaced suggesting that Chinese officials have explored the idea of selling to tech magnate Elon Musk, although these discussions have not been independently confirmed by CNN. Musk, known for his acquisitions and ventures, could be a potential buyer, though his involvement could raise further concerns about the platform’s alignment with U.S. interests.

Meanwhile, The People’s Bid for TikTok, a group supported by billionaire Frank McCourt and Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary, has also made an offer to purchase the platform. This group has backing from Guggenheim Securities and world-wide web inventor Tim Berners-Lee, signaling strong financial and technological support.

The value of TikTok’s U.S. assets, excluding its coveted algorithm, is estimated between $40 billion and $50 billion, according to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives. However, it algorithm is believed to be the core of its value, making it difficult to pinpoint an exact worth for the platform as a whole. McCourt’s group has not disclosed the financial specifics of their offer but has previously suggested that they value the assets at around $20 billion.

What Does the Future Hold?

As the deadline approaches and discussions intensify, the fate of remains in the balance. ByteDance, the Chinese parent company, has so far resisted selling the platform, citing its significant global influence and value. However, the pressure from U.S. lawmakers and the public is undeniable.

Ultimately, time is running out. With the 75-day deadline ticking down,it’s future could hinge on whether ByteDance is willing to sell or if U.S. lawmakers will step in with a new law to change the course of the platform’s future. If no resolution comes to pass, TikTok could face a permanent ban, cutting off a major communication and entertainment tool for millions of users. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining how this tech drama unfolds.