Jimmy Donaldson, popularly known as MrBeast, is in talks with several billionaires about potentially acquiring TikTok to prevent its shutdown in the U.S.
What Happened: On Tuesday, the renowned YouTuber took to X, formerly Twitter, and said that he intends to buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned in the U.S.
He later said that multiple billionaires have contacted him to explore the feasibility of the purchase. While he did not disclose any names, the YouTuber appears to be considering the possibility of making the acquisition a reality.
“Unironically I’ve had so many billionaires reach out to me since I tweeted this, let’s see if we can pull this off,” he stated.
Tech mogul Elon Musk has also emerged as a potential buyer for TikTok’s U.S. operations, with discussions valuing the deal between $40 billion to $50 billion.
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Why It Matters: In April 2024, President Joe Biden signed a bill requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to either cease U.S. operations or sell its business in the country.
With the Jan. 19 deadline looming, MrBeast’s post about buying TikTok has sparked interest, though initially perceived as a joke by some fans.
The primary concern leading to the potential ban is the risk of data being shared with the Chinese government.
ByteDance has previously stated that TikTok is not for sale, and any sale attempts might face opposition from the Chinese government.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday heard oral arguments on the legislation that could lead to the app’s shutdown. TikTok users have also launched a campaign urging President-elect Donald Trump to intervene and prevent the ban.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
