Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson has joined forces with several high-profile investors in a bid for the US operations of TikTok. The surprise news, which came via a series of posts on social media, was a daring play at just the right time, as regulatory pressure against the extremely popular service has continued to ramp up in the US.
On January 13, 2025, MrBeast fanned the flames of speculation with this tweet: “Okay fine, I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned.” First taken as a joke, the seriousness of the YouTube sensation was later confirmed by his attorney. Days later, the consortium led by tech entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley made an all-cash offer to ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok.
“I just got out of a meeting with a bunch of billionaires. TikTok, we mean business,” said MrBeast in a TikTok video, further confirming the commitment. The commitment has also been verified by Paul Hastings LLP, the law firm representing the investor group.
This ambitious acquisition has been in the works to prevent a ban on TikTok in the U.S., which has always looked a looming probability because of ongoing national security concerns pertaining to its ownership in China. The U.S. government has issued a stringent deadline for ByteDance, compelling it to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations by January 19, 2025. If otherwise, it faces a complete nation-wide ban – which once took effect earlier this year before being kept on hold via an executive order from President Donald Trump.
Jesse Tinsley, founder and CEO of Employer.com, underlined that the bid aims at preserving TikTok’s presence in the U.S. while addressing security issues. “Our offer represents a win-win solution that preserves this vital platform, while addressing legitimate national security concerns,” Tinsley said.
The consortium of institutional investors and high net worth individuals aims to provide continuity to the 170 million American TikTok users, and it’s an important moment: MrBeast is the most influential person in the digital universe; his presence provides an influential voice, coupled with more than 200 million subscribers on YouTube, to become one of the most sought-after personalities involved in the effort to save TikTok from an impending shutdown.
Jimmy is serious about this. He sees the value TikTok brings to millions of creators and users, and he wants to ensure its future in the US,” said a lawyer for MrBeast.
This bid arrives in the tense regulatory and legal backdrop. The Supreme Court on 14th January 2025, upheld a federal law that demands the sale of TikTok to a non-Chinese owner. Early this month, TikTok went dark in the U.S., where the pending ban was being put into practice, but recommenced operations after President Trump issued a 75-day extension.
But the race is on, and with the deadline of January 19 for ByteDance to divest TikTok, an indefinite ban beckons. Trump has already suggested that he is open to the app’s acquisition by US billionaires, specifically floating the names Elon Musk and Larry Ellison. Still, the consortium comprising Tinsley and MrBeast has grown the most talkative bidder.
Despite the hype brought about by it, no actual exclusive deal signings have been brought to a close. ByteDance has not risen to the consortium led by Mr. Beast’s take-over offer either, and even the fate of TikTok regarding its U.S. operations yet remains in the dim light of further developments. A company representative for him said not only that discussions are still ongoing but he may have been confronted by several partners over the business acquisition.
