MrBeast, whose full name is Jimmy Donaldson, has recently made headlines by stating that he would certainly buy TikTok to save it from a possible ban in the US. With a group of investors, Donaldson hopes to keep the hugely popular social media platform in operation for its users in the United States.
It is urgent because of a federal law, passed in 2020 in response to national security concerns, that requires TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its American operations by Jan. 19, 2025. Otherwise, the app would be banned across the country. In response, MrBeast said on social media he planned to buy TikTok, saying on X, “Okay fine, I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned.”
Andrew Donaldson posted a video reiterating his plans for the acquisition after this announcement. He also said he had meetings scheduled with several billionaires and was preparing a formal offer for ByteDance. His attorney said this latest attempt is a legitimate effort to avoid a ban of the app.
Donaldson’s consortium includes tech entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley, who founded Employer. com and other institutional investors. Their plan, they say, would address national security concerns and also provide continuity for TikTok’s 170 million American users. Tinsley added: “Our proposal provides a win-win solution that preserves this vital platform while addressing genuine national security concerns.”
As the deadline nears, other would-be buyers have appeared. Former U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that tech billionaires Elon Musk and Larry Ellison might make good candidates to buy TikTok. The group, known as “The People’s Bid for TikTok” and fund-backed by billionaires Frank McCourt and Kevin O’Leary of “Shark Tank,” has also publicly sought to buy the platform.
For its part, ByteDance is considering a range of options to be more in keeping with U.S. regulations and avoid a total ban. While the CEO of General Atlantic, the investment firm that holds a seat on ByteDance’s board, last month said solutions can be found, he stopped short of saying a full sale would be needed. He suggested alternatives might address U.S. authorities’ concerns.
Meanwhile, TikTok went dark temporarily in the U.S. on January 18, 2025, before the ban would take effect. It resumed operations, however, and President Trump announced a 75-day extension, a temporary fix for both the platform and its aggrieved users.
With negotiations ongoing, the fate of TikTok in the U.S. is uncertain. The participation of headliners like MrBeast highlights the platform’s importance and how many want it to remain open for American users.
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