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, including Jesse Tinsley (Employer.com founder), Roblox CEO David Baszucki, and Nathan McCauley (Anchorage Digital), estimates the acquisition will cost $25 billion.

While TikTok's owner, ByteDance, 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 confirm ongoing discussions with various parties. MrBeast aims to align with the eventual winning bidder, potentially shifting allegiances depending on the unfolding situation. He tweeted on January 22nd, expressing enthusiasm about the potential partnership and hinting at significant developments.

Earlier this week, President Trump mentioned Microsoft's purported negotiations to acquire TikTok, anticipating a bidding war. Microsoft hasn't yet verified this claim.

TikTok experienced a temporary outage for its 170 million U.S. users shortly before a January 19th deadline mandated by a law demanding either a sale or a ban due to national security concerns. The app's brief shutdown followed the Supreme Court's rejection of TikTok's First Amendment appeal. The court acknowledged the prevalence of data collection in the digital age but cited TikTok's scale, vulnerability to foreign influence, and the sensitive data it handles as justification for prioritizing national security.

Service resumed after assurances from President Trump that penalties would be avoided. TikTok stated this was a victory for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship, committing to collaborate with President Trump on a long-term solution ensuring TikTok's continued presence in the U.S.

Following his inauguration on January 20th, President Trump issued an executive order delaying enforcement of the law by 75 days. He's actively engaged in discussions with various entities and individuals regarding a potential TikTok buyout, including expressing openness to Elon Musk's potential involvement.