MrBeast, the popular YouTuber, is reportedly among a group of investors attempting a $20 billion+ bid to acquire TikTok. Bloomberg reports that this group includes Jesse Tinsley (Employer.com founder), Roblox co-founder and CEO David Baszucki, and Nathan McCauley (Anchorage Digital head). They estimate a $25 billion purchase price.

While TikTok's owner, ByteDance, has declared its U.S. operations are not for sale, and the Tinsley-led group hasn't received a direct response, MrBeast's representatives state he's engaged in discussions with multiple parties. He aims to join the leading bidder, potentially shifting allegiances depending on the situation's evolution. MrBeast tweeted on January 22nd, expressing excitement 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 confirmed this.

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

Service resumed following assurances from President Trump that penalties would be avoided. TikTok described this as a victory for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship, pledging to collaborate with President Trump on a long-term solution to maintain its U.S. presence.

Following his inauguration on January 20th, President Trump issued an executive order delaying law enforcement for 75 days. He's engaged in discussions with various entities regarding a potential TikTok buyout, including Elon Musk.