 in 2022 demonstrates his appetite for social media investments. Musk has criticized the potential ban, arguing that “it is not just about TikTok; it is about censorship and government control!” His close relationship with the Trump administration and the US president’s explicit openness to Musk as a buyer have fueled speculation the Tesla titan could sweep in and buy it. A report that Chinese officials were considering selling the company’s US operations to Musk X was met with a firm denial from TikTok. Larry Ellison Oracle, led by Larry Ellison, already plays a crucial role in TikTok’s US operations as its trusted data storage provider—a relationship that dates back to previous negotiations during the first Trump administration. With Ellison’s personal fortune of $207 billion — ranking behind only Musk, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, according to Forbes — Oracle is frequently mentioned as a front-runner. Ellison is also a longtime Donald Trump ally. Currently, Oracle is key to keeping TikTok available to US users at the request of Trump. Microsoft US tech colossus Microsoft stands out as a compelling potential buyer, armed with deep pockets and significant technological capabilities in artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Asked late Monday (27) if Microsoft was in discussion for acquiring TikTok, Trump told reporters: “I would say yes.” While the company founded by Bill Gates has historically dominated in productivity and enterprise software, it has struggled to establish a strong presence in social media and search-based advertising. According to CFRA Research senior vice president Angelo Zino, Microsoft’s interest stems from a desire to strengthen its position beyond LinkedIn, which it owns, in the digital advertising space. MrBeast Internet personality MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, commands over 340 million YouTube subscribers and 113 million TikTok followers. He has joined forces with Recruiter.com Ventures founder Jesse Tinsley to pursue an acquisition. “Okay fine, I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned,” Donaldson said in a mid-January post on X. Donaldson’s casual tweet reportedly attracted serious attention from numerous billionaires. The group has made an all-cash offer that they claim addresses US national security concerns while preserving the platform’s essence. Project Liberty Real estate and sports tycoon Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative has launched “The People’s Bid for TikTok,” in a campaign joined by investor Kevin O’Leary, known from the “Shark Tank” television show in which entrepreneurs pitch ideas in bids for venture capital. This unique approach includes a crowdfunding element aimed at giving individuals and small businesses a stake in TikTok’s future. McCourt emphasizes their “clean, American-made tech stack” as a key differentiator that could enable a seamless transition. Perplexity AI The AI-powered search engine has proposed a unique merger structure that would allow ByteDance’s investors to retain much of their equity while integrating more TikTok video content into Perplexity’s platform, according to a CNBC report. Steven Mnuchin Steven Mnuchin, who served as US Treasury Secretary during Trump’s first term as president, announced last year that he was amassing investors to bid for TikTok. When asked about the effort recently on CNBC’s Squawk Box program, Mnuchin said it was put on hold because ByteDance would not negotiate but that they were going to be following developments closely. No deal? “The real question though is will TikTok sell to any of them,” independent tech analyst Rob Enderle said of the situation. TikTok does not appear overly motivated regarding the sale of the app, and Chinese firm DeepSeek’s AI chatbot has grabbed the tech community’s attention, potentially taking the spotlight off TikTok. For More Interesting News Follow Us on Instagram){kind=link}
Because the clock ticks down on TikTok’s 75-day reprieve from divesting from its Chinese language house owners or being banned in america, a number of contenders are within the operating. Right here’s a take a look at who might save the app earlier than the April 5 deadline.
Elon Musk
Whereas Musk hasn’t publicly expressed curiosity in buying TikTok, his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter (now X) in 2022 demonstrates his urge for food for social media investments.
Musk has criticized the potential ban, arguing that “it’s not nearly TikTok; it’s about censorship and authorities management!”
His shut relationship with the Trump administration and the US president’s specific openness to Musk as a purchaser have fueled hypothesis the Tesla titan might sweep in and purchase it.
A report that Chinese language officers had been contemplating promoting the corporate’s US operations to Musk X was met with a agency denial from TikTok.
Larry Ellison
Oracle, led by Larry Ellison, already performs an important function in TikTok’s US operations as its trusted knowledge storage supplier—a relationship that dates again to earlier negotiations throughout the first Trump administration.
With Ellison’s private fortune of $207 billion — rating behind solely Musk, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, in keeping with Forbes — Oracle is often talked about as a front-runner. Ellison can be a longtime Donald Trump ally.
At the moment, Oracle is vital to holding TikTok obtainable to US customers on the request of Trump.
Microsoft
US tech colossus Microsoft stands out as a compelling potential purchaser, armed with deep pockets and important technological capabilities in synthetic intelligence and cloud computing.
Requested late Monday (27) if Microsoft was in dialogue for buying TikTok, Trump advised reporters: “I’d say sure.”
Whereas the corporate based by Invoice Gates has traditionally dominated in productiveness and enterprise software program, it has struggled to determine a powerful presence in social media and search-based promoting.
In response to CFRA Analysis senior vp Angelo Zino, Microsoft’s curiosity stems from a want to strengthen its place past LinkedIn, which it owns, within the digital promoting area.
MrBeast
Web persona MrBeast, whose actual identify is Jimmy Donaldson, instructions over 340 million YouTube subscribers and 113 million TikTok followers. He has joined forces with Recruiter.com Ventures founder Jesse Tinsley to pursue an acquisition.
“Okay positive, I’ll purchase TikTok so it doesn’t get banned,” Donaldson stated in a mid-January put up on X.
Donaldson’s informal tweet reportedly attracted critical consideration from quite a few billionaires. The group has made an all-cash provide that they declare addresses US nationwide safety issues whereas preserving the platform’s essence.
Undertaking Liberty
Actual property and sports activities tycoon Frank McCourt’s Undertaking Liberty initiative has launched “The Individuals’s Bid for TikTok,” in a marketing campaign joined by investor Kevin O’Leary, identified from the “Shark Tank” tv present wherein entrepreneurs pitch concepts in bids for enterprise capital.
This distinctive strategy features a crowdfunding aspect geared toward giving people and small companies a stake in TikTok’s future.
McCourt emphasizes their “clear, American-made tech stack” as a key differentiator that would allow a seamless transition.
Perplexity AI
The AI-powered search engine has proposed a singular merger construction that might enable ByteDance’s traders to retain a lot of their fairness whereas integrating extra TikTok video content material into Perplexity’s platform, in keeping with a CNBC report.
Steven Mnuchin
Steven Mnuchin, who served as US Treasury Secretary throughout Trump’s first time period as president, introduced final 12 months that he was amassing traders to bid for TikTok.
When requested concerning the effort not too long ago on CNBC’s Squawk Field program, Mnuchin stated it was placed on maintain as a result of ByteDance wouldn’t negotiate however that they had been going to be following developments intently.
No deal?
“The actual query although is will TikTok promote to any of them,” impartial tech analyst Rob Enderle stated of the state of affairs.
TikTok doesn’t seem overly motivated relating to the sale of the app, and Chinese language agency DeepSeek’s AI chatbot has grabbed the tech neighborhood’s consideration, doubtlessly taking the highlight off TikTok.
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