MrBeast and the CEO of Roblox Are Trying to Buy TikTok for Over $20 Billion

MrBeast, the popular YouTuber, is reportedly part of a consortium attempting a $20 billion+ bid to acquire TikTok. This group, which includes Jesse Tinsley (Employer.com founder), Roblox CEO David Baszucki, and Nathan McCauley (Anchorage Digital), estimates the acquisition cost at $25 billion.

Bloomberg reported on this ambitious bid, though ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, has publicly stated its U.S. operations are not for sale, and the Tinsley-led group hasn't received a direct response.

MrBeast's representatives clarified that he's engaged in discussions with multiple parties and aims to align with the eventual leading bidder, potentially shifting allegiances depending on the unfolding situation. In a January 22nd tweet, Donaldson expressed excitement about the prospect, hinting at significant developments.

Earlier this week, former President Trump mentioned Microsoft's purported involvement in negotiations, anticipating a bidding war. Microsoft hasn't confirmed this claim.

Prior to a January 19th deadline, a law mandating ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban due to national security concerns briefly resulted in the app's temporary shutdown for its 170 million U.S. users. This followed the Supreme Court's rejection of TikTok's First Amendment challenge. The court acknowledged common data practices in the digital age but cited TikTok's scale, vulnerability to foreign control, and the sensitive data it collects as justification for the government's national security concerns.

Service was restored after assurances from President Trump that penalties would be avoided. TikTok characterized this as a victory for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship, pledging to collaborate with the President on a long-term solution to maintain its U.S. presence. Following his inauguration, President Biden signed an executive order delaying enforcement of the law by 75 days. He's reportedly exploring various buyout options, including the possibility of Elon Musk taking control.