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

YouTube sensation MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) is reportedly among a group of investors vying to acquire TikTok in a bid exceeding $20 billion. Bloomberg reports that Donaldson has teamed up with Jesse Tinsley (founder of Employer.com), Roblox co-founder and CEO David Baszucki, and Nathan McCauley (head of Anchorage Digital) in this ambitious endeavor. The group estimates a $25 billion purchase price for the social media giant.

While TikTok's owner, ByteDance, has declared its U.S. operations are not for sale, and the Tinsley-led group acknowledges a lack of direct response, Donaldson's representatives confirm ongoing discussions with various parties. Donaldson aims to align with the eventual frontrunner, suggesting potential shifts in allegiance depending on the unfolding situation. He tweeted on January 22nd, "The leading groups who are all credible bidding on Tik Tok have reached out for us to help them, I’m excited to partner/make this a reality. Big things cooking."

Earlier this week, former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Microsoft was negotiating a TikTok acquisition, expressing hope for a bidding war. Microsoft has yet to verify this claim.

TikTok experienced a temporary outage for its 170 million U.S. users shortly before a January 19th deadline requiring its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to either sell or face a ban on national security grounds. The app went offline after the Supreme Court rejected an appeal based on TikTok's First Amendment challenge. The Supreme Court acknowledged the prevalence of data collection in the digital age but cited TikTok's scale, susceptibility to foreign control, and the vast amount of sensitive data collected as justification for differential treatment to address national security concerns.

Service was restored following assurances from former President Trump that TikTok would not face penalties. TikTok stated at the time, “It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.” Following his departure from office, former President Trump signed an executive order seeking a 75-day delay in enforcing the law. He engaged in discussions with various companies and individuals regarding a potential TikTok buyout, expressing openness to Elon Musk's involvement.