MrBeast Officially Joins Bid to Purchase TikTok in the US
MrBeast Officially Joins Bid to Purchase TikTok in the US.
Creator collaborates with Jesse Tinsley as Donald Trump expresses his willingness for Elon Musk and Larry Ellison to acquire the platform.
MrBeast, the prominent YouTube personality and the highest-earning creator on the internet, has officially entered a bid to acquire TikTok's operations in the United States.
The 26-year-old has partnered with tech entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley, the founder of the online HR platform employer.com, to present an all-cash proposal for the American segment of the social video application. This initiative was revealed following Donald Trump's indication that he would be receptive to US tech billionaires Elon Musk and Larry Ellison purchasing TikTok in the United States.
MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has expressed his interest in acquiring TikTok through several social media posts, including a message on X dated January 13: “I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned.” In a subsequent TikTok post Donaldson said he had been talking to a “bunch of billionaires” about a bid.
The law firm Paul Hastings, based in the United States, disclosed the Donaldson bid in a statement released on Tuesday. The firm indicated that Tinsley was at the helm of an investor group that included "institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals," although Donaldson was the sole member of the group identified by name.
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The announcement did not disclose the amount of the all-cash offer; however, Trump assigned a valuation of $1 trillion (£811 billion) to the application on Tuesday. As reported by Forbes, MrBeast, who boasts 346 million followers on YouTube, was recognized as the most successful internet creator globally last year, with earnings of $85 million.
Paul Hastings noted that the attorney leading its advisory team for the bid is Brad Bondi, who is the brother of Pam Bondi, Trump's nominee for US attorney general.
Additionally, the US president mentioned a potential partnership with Musk, the wealthiest individual in the world, or Ellison, the multibillionaire founder of Oracle and the fourth richest person globally. During a press conference on Tuesday, Trump expressed his willingness to consider Musk's interest in making a bid, stating, “I would be, if he wanted to buy it. I’d like Larry [Ellison] to buy it too.”
Ellison, who attended the press conference, remarked that it appeared to be a "favorable agreement." Trump indicated that TikTok's valuation stood at $1 trillion, contingent upon a "permit" for its operations in the United States, with less than 50% ownership by American entities.
The future of TikTok in the United States remains ambiguous, even after the app was reactivated on Sunday following a temporary shutdown by its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance. TikTok was compelled to take action prior to a January 19 deadline, which required its Chinese parent to divest the app's U.S. operations or face a potential ban.
Nevertheless, the app was restored after Trump provided "assurances," leading him to issue an executive order on Monday that suspended the enforcement of a law mandating TikTok's sale. This legislation prohibited companies like Apple, Google, or Oracle from distributing or maintaining the app, effectively hindering its operations if ByteDance had not finalized a sale by January 19.
Some Republican legislators have raised concerns regarding the legality of suspending the law, asserting that companies impacted by the legislation must comply, and any violations could lead to “ruinous bankruptcy” According to Reuters, as of Tuesday, Apple and Google had not yet reinstated the app on their respective app stores.
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MrBeast’s entry into the bid to acquire TikTok's U.S. operations signals a new chapter for the popular platform, combining his entrepreneurial spirit with innovative vision. With the backing of Jesse Tinsley and an investor group, this all-cash proposal demonstrates a strong commitment to securing TikTok’s future in the U.S.
The support from key figures like Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Larry Ellison further solidifies the potential for success. As one of the highest-earning creators globally, MrBeast’s involvement promises fresh opportunities for growth, creativity, and a new era for social media in America, benefitting both users and creators alike.
