In the illustration taken on January 19, 2025, a 3D printed miniature model of US President-elect Donald Trump and the TikTok logo can be seen.
Ruvic Date | Reuters
President Donald Trump wants U.S. investors to take a major stake in Bytedance’s TikTok. Even though potential buyers face many legal hurdles and hurdles, several parties are vying for it.
intervention Restore Tiktok in the United States Trump, who has delayed laws that would effectively ban the app, is looking for a longer-term path to keeping the popular platform afloat.
He floated a proposal that would have U.S. stakeholders buy the company and then sell 50% of the shares to the U.S. government, which would run the app alongside a private party.
So, who might be a contender for one of America’s most popular apps?
Elon Musk
Trump has flagged several major investors in his inner circle as acceptable buyers, one of whom is Tesla and SpaceX owner Elon Musk.
World’s richest man to lead Trump’s new Department of Government Effectiveness with close business ties to China be opposed to to the Tiktok ban.
Bloomberg reported earlier this month that the Chinese government was considering a plan to give Musk access to Tiktok’s U.S. business, citing anonymous sources. Here’s a Wall Street Journal report that says Tiktok’s CEO is Musk’s request for advice Before Trump took office.
CNBC could not reach Musk for comment.
“Elon Musk continues to emerge as a potential bidder for Tiktok, which could include some technology partners/outside investors to reach a deal,” Wedbush said in a research note on Wednesday. ”
The note added: “Musk will be hand-picked in Beijing and his ironclad relationship with Trump will make this a very logical choice in our view.”
Scotiabank analyst Nat Schindler also pointed out that Musk’s acquisition of Twitter shows his interest in global social media platforms. But he also sees some potential obstacles for tech moguls.
Schindler said: “Musk is already under fire for owning ”
Larry Ellison
Trump also said he would “love” to watch Oracle President Larry Ellison Buying Platform.
Ellison, Long time Trump supporter, stand next to the president press conference in his Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Investment Trump was asked about a potential TikTok deal during Tuesday’s program.
“What I’m thinking of saying to someone is, buy it and give half to the United States of America. Half and we’ll give you permission,” Trump said.
Ellison responded: “Sounds good to me.”
Ellison and his company are currently at the center of TikTok’s woes, operating as a cloud infrastructure provider for American Savage
Scotiabank’s Schindler said that given its existing relationship with Tiktok and “direct investment in Tiktok’s success in the region”.
Ellison bids tiktok WalmartBack in 2020, when Trump first pushed to ban the platform. Neither company responded to CNBC’s request for comment.
Trump has officially recognized The in-principle Walmart-Oracle deal, which would have seen the tech and retail giant partner take over the US-based video-sharing app, avoids a shutdown. However, the Trump administration has attempted to ban TikTok in the United States amid legal challenges there.
Ellison later Joined a group of investors This helped Elon Musk buy the social media platform Twitter in 2022, now called X.
“(We believe) Oracle/Ellison could play a key role in any deal given their significant technology partnership with TikTok and his presence in the White House with Project Stargate,” Wedbush said.
Wedbush added that it hopes to have a number of players, Musk and Ellison leading the way in the coming weeks.
Big players, serious money
In addition to Musk and Ellison, experts flagged several other parties that could be interested in a potential deal for Tiktok, adding that the barriers to entry are high.
Given the financial stakes of a Tiktok deal, Albright Stone Group’s Paul Triolo told CNBC it’s unlikely some rogue investors would buy the platform on the cheap.
“While it’s difficult to come up with an updated valuation for Tiktok, it’s likely to be an order book of $40-800 million, which means anyone who decides to jump in must have some serious money ready,” he said.
He added that potential suitors could include some of the largest social media and technology players in the United States, such as Yuan and GoogleExcept Musk’s X.
Meta and Google did not immediately respond to CNBC inquiries.
However, Sarah Kreps, director of Cornell University’s Technology Policy Institute, warned that players such as Meta, Google and Musk acquired large stakes in Tiktok , antitrust issues can be raised.
Scotiabank analyst Nat Schindler noted that there are many other players, including existing investors black stoneowned by Atlantic General chunks Tiktok’s parent company. According to him, some of these investors may participate in any sale of the U.S. platform by investing in new entities.
“Other large venture capital investments from Tiger to Fidelity, hedge funds and asset managers may also show interest in a fast-growing global platform with such a large audience base,” Schindler said.
Mrbeast
The enthusiasm surrounding Tiktok US purchases has also seen some unconventional players enter the fray.
Social media superstar Mrbeast (real name Jimmy Donaldson), who has more than 100 million Tiktok followers, has posted several videos expressing interest in buying the platform, claiming he has held talks with the billionaire .
In one video, internet personality claims he has prepared offerjoking that he might be the new Tiktok CEO.
media reports Donaldson and a group of investors who were preparing to make a bid for Tiktok were also mentioned.
On Thursday, Donaldson spokesman Matthew Hiltzik told CNBC that “there are several potential buyers in ongoing discussions with Jimmy, but he has no relationship with any of them.” There is no exclusive agreement.”
“People bid for tiktok”
Led by Project Liberty founder Frank McCourt and Canadian businessman and TV personality Kevin O’Leary (People’s Bid for Tiktok), has made a $20 billion cash offer to buy Tiktok.
O’Leary told CNBC last year he wanted to Buy the platform at a discount Since any possible transaction does not include Tiktok’s original algorithm. The group says it has replaced the algorithm used for TikTok US
Both follow Trump’s comments about 50% stake in platform McCourt and O’Leary told CNBC this week that they were interested in Tiktok’s deal and wanted to work with Trump to make it happen.
McCourt also told CNBC that he wants Tiktok to run a decentralized social network protocol, or DSNP, overseen by the Project Liberty Institute, a nonprofit founded by the billionaire.
In addition to bidding interest, many legal and technology experts told CNBC that Trump’s executive order delaying the Tiktok ban contradicts the Supreme Court’s early decision. Ruling upholding Pafaka and may face legal opposition.
O’Leary also told CNBC on Monday that a Tiktok deal is unlikely to happen under current lawafter Supreme Court upholds impending ban on Tiktok Protecting Americans from Control by Foreign Adversaries Actor pafaca, Sunday.
Beijing and its negotiations with Trump over trade with the United States are also expected to be a deciding factor in whether Beijing allows the dispatch to divest.
“In the high-stakes poker game between the Trump administration and Beijing,” Wedush said
