YouTube and TikTok star MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has officially entered the race to buy TikTok, leading a group of investors. This move comes as the social media platform faces a 75-day deadline to secure a non-Chinese owner or risk a permanent ban in the U.S.

On January 13th, Donaldson posted a lighthearted message on X, saying, “Okay fine, I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned.” While his tone was playful, his lawyer confirmed to CNN that Donaldson was serious about the bid. As the most popular YouTuber and third-most popular TikToker, Donaldson’s involvement has added a new twist to the ongoing TikTok saga.

A Rapid Turn of Events for TikTok

TikTok’s future has been in jeopardy for weeks, with legal battles and political pressure mounting. On Saturday night, the app temporarily went dark as a nationwide ban appeared imminent. However, after President Donald Trump announced he would sign an executive order delaying the ban by 75 days, TikTok was back online within 12 hours.

Just two days after his post on X, Donaldson shared a TikTok video, revealing that he had “just gotten out of a meeting with a bunch of billionaires” and was serious about purchasing the platform. “TikTok, we mean business,” Donaldson declared, introducing his lawyer and confirming that an offer was on the table.

The Bid: A Serious Attempt to Keep TikTok Alive

Donaldson’s bid is a direct response to a recent Supreme Court ruling, which upheld a federal law banning TikTok unless ByteDance, the app’s Chinese parent company, sells the platform to a non-China-based company. This ruling has left TikTok in a race against time.

Leading the investment group is Jesse Tinsley, CEO of Employer.com, who is joined by “institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals” determined to save TikTok from being shut down. According to the group, the proposal would not disrupt TikTok’s operations, ensuring continuity for its 170 million American users.

Tinsley emphasized, “Our offer represents a win-win solution that preserves this vital platform while addressing legitimate national security concerns.” However, the bid’s financial details have not been disclosed.

A Looming Deadline for TikTok

Talk of selling TikTok to a U.S.-based company has been circulating since 2020 when President Trump first issued an executive order attempting to ban the app. Last week, after the Supreme Court upheld the federal law, TikTok faced a tough decision: either sell to a new buyer or risk being shut down.

Over the weekend, TikTok displayed a message indicating the ban was imminent. “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now,” it read. However, Trump’s executive order signed on Monday extended the ban’s enforcement for 75 days, providing temporary relief but not a permanent solution. To avoid a permanent shutdown, ByteDance would need to find a buyer, or Congress could pass a new law to overturn the ban—a highly unlikely scenario given the bipartisan support for the current legislation.

Other Bids and Potential Buyers

MrBeast is not the only one interested in acquiring TikTok. Reports have surfaced that Chinese officials have considered selling a portion of the app to tech mogul Elon Musk, though neither ByteDance nor Musk has commented on the rumors.

Additionally, “The People’s Bid for TikTok,” a group that includes Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary and billionaire Frank McCourt, has also made an offer to buy the platform. This group, backed by Guggenheim Securities and Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, is also eager to prevent TikTok’s disappearance.

TikTok’s U.S. assets, excluding its valuable algorithm, are estimated to be worth between $40 billion and $50 billion, according to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives. However, the true value of TikTok lies largely in its algorithm, making it difficult to put an exact price tag on the company.

McCourt’s group has not disclosed their offer publicly but has indicated that they value the assets at around $20 billion. O’Leary and McCourt’s group stated, “We will refrain from publicly sharing the financial specifics of our offer until ByteDance is in a position to review our proposal.”

The Race Against Time

With the clock ticking, TikTok is facing a pivotal moment. Whether it’s MrBeast and his group of investors, Elon Musk, or another bidder, one thing is clear: TikTok’s fate hangs in the balance. As more offers flood in, the platform’s future will ultimately depend on whether a deal can be reached before the 75-day deadline expires.

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President-elect Donald Trump announced he will “most likely” grant TikTok a 90-day extension to comply with U.S. law requiring the social media platform to be sold by its China-based parent company or face a shutdown.

Trump’s Statement

In a phone interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump said, “The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done because it’s appropriate.” He added that if he decides to grant the extension, the announcement would likely be made on Monday, the day of his inauguration.

Deadline Looms

The current deadline set by the law requires TikTok to shut down operations in the U.S. by Sunday unless it complies. A 90-day extension would give TikTok additional time to meet the legal requirements and avoid going offline.

Supreme Court Decision

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld the law on Friday, solidifying the legal grounds for the shutdown if compliance is not achieved. Despite this, the Biden administration has stated it would not enforce a shutdown in the days leading up to Trump’s inauguration.

TikTok’s Response

TikTok has indicated that without the extension, it would have to “go dark” this weekend. The company has been exploring potential buyers and solutions to address U.S. security concerns related to its Chinese ownership.

What’s Next?

All eyes are on Monday for Trump’s potential announcement. A decision to extend the deadline would provide TikTok with additional time to restructure and ensure continued operation in the U.S. market.

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