The U.S. companies interested in acquiring TikTok: MrBeast and Shark Tank hosts among them
As the April 5 deadline approaches, multiple American companies are vying to take over TikTok’s U.S. operations. President Donald Trump must approve one of these bids, or the app could face a ban in the U.S.
The clock is ticking for TikTok’s future in the U.S., with President Donald Trump set to make a critical decision regarding the app’s ownership. As the deadline to finalize a sale approaches, multiple companies have thrown their hats into the ring, eager to take control of the platform.
With various suitors vying for TikTok’s U.S. operations, it’s unclear who will come out on top. The outcome of this deal could have a significant impact on the app’s 170 million American users and the companies involved.
Who are the potential buyers for TikTok?
Multiple bids have been submitted, including late-stage offers from Amazon and a consortium led by Tim Stokely, the founder of OnlyFans. Here’s a look at the major players vying to acquire TikTok.
The People’s Bid for TikTok Project Liberty, initiated by Frank McCourt, has partnered with a group called “The People’s Bid for TikTok,” which includes Shark Tank host Kevin O’Leary. They submitted their bid in January, with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian joining as a strategic advisor.
MrBeast James "Jimmy" Donaldson, known as MrBeast, is involved in a bid led by Jesse Tinsley, the founder of Employer.com.
Oracle Reports indicate that Oracle, TikTok’s current U.S. technology partner, is one of the top contenders for taking over TikTok’s U.S. operations.
Perplexity AI The artificial intelligence search engine Perplexity made an official merger proposal with TikTok in January. The deal would allow ByteDance’s existing investors to retain equity stakes in TikTok.
Amazon On Wednesday, Amazon confirmed its bid, sending a letter to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to declare its intent to compete for TikTok’s U.S. operations.
Zoop and Hbar Foundation Zoop, a new startup led by Tim Stokely (founder of OnlyFans), has teamed up with the Hbar Foundation, a Web3-focused cryptocurrency entity.
Blackstone Private equity firm Blackstone has been in talks to acquire a stake in TikTok, with additional investments from ByteDance’s non-Chinese shareholders, including Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic.
FoundersTok Billionaire Reid Rasner, CEO of Omnivest Financial, has made a public offer to buy TikTok for the American people, avoiding another corporate acquisition. He has set up a platform, FoundersTok, to invite supporters to join his bid.
Other Potential Buyers Other names such as Bobby Kotick (former CEO of Activision), Doug McMillon (Walmart CEO), Microsoft, and conservative streaming platform Rumble have shown interest but have not made formal bids.
Trump has also floated the idea of using a U.S. sovereign wealth fund to purchase TikTok or a portion of it, though details remain scarce. He met with officials including Vice President JD Vance, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and other key figures on Wednesday to discuss the available offers.