US President Donald Trump gave TikTok a breather of 75 days to avoid the US ban by finding a suitable non-Chinese buyer. Now, it seems like the renowned YouTuber MrBeast is eyeing the opportunity to buy TikTok as part of a group of investors. Jimmy Donaldson aka MrBeast back on January 13 on X posted, “Okay fine, I’ll buy Tik Tok so it doesn’t get banned.” Many considered this just a joke, but his lawyers told CNN that he was being serious.
Donaldson, along with a group of investors, has added another layer of drama to TikTok’s eventful week. The app temporarily went offline Saturday night as the threat of a nationwide ban loomed, only to resume operations roughly 12 hours later after President Donald Trump declared he would issue an executive order postponing the ban by 75 days. Just two days after sharing his thoughts on X, Donaldson took to TikTok with a video announcing his plans to purchase the platform.
MrBeast Means Business
MrBeast in a video said, “I just got out of a meeting with a bunch of billionaires. TikTok we mean business. This is my lawyer right here, we have an offer ready for you, we want to buy the platform.”
The bid follows the Supreme Court's decision to uphold a federal law mandating TikTok’s sale to a non-China-based entity, according to a statement provided to CNN by a spokesperson for the Paul Hastings law firm, which represents the consortium behind the offer. Led by Jesse Tinsley, founder and CEO of Employer.com, the group consists of “institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals” who are committed to preserving the app's presence in the U.S. market.
The proposed acquisition aims to maintain TikTok's operations without disruption, ensuring seamless access for its 170 million American users, the investor group stated. Tinsley in a statement said, “Our offer represents a win-win solution that preserves this vital platform, while addressing legitimate national security concerns.”