Why MrBeast Is Eager to Acquire TikTok

American YouTuber MrBeast has expressed interest in purchasing TikTok to prevent its potential ban in the United States. This follows weeks of speculation after the former president announced plans to prohibit the platform.

TikTok, with over 170 million US users, faces a looming deadline of January 19th to avoid a ban unless the court rules in its favor or ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, divests ownership.

Posting on his X account, MrBeast wrote, “Okay fine, I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned,” sparking conversations online about the platform’s uncertain future.

Under current law, TikTok must be sold to a US-based company or face prohibition. In April, Congress voted to enforce the ban unless ByteDance divests its US operations by the January deadline. Rumors suggest that ByteDance may be in talks with billionaire Elon Musk to facilitate a deal.

According to The Guardian, TikTok’s US operations could either be sold through a competitive bidding process or be subject to government intervention, highlighting that control over the app might now be out of ByteDance’s hands. China’s government holds a “golden share” in ByteDance, raising concerns among US lawmakers about Beijing’s influence over TikTok.

If negotiations proceed, Musk’s platform, X, could potentially take over TikTok’s US operations and manage it collaboratively.

Can MrBeast Afford TikTok?

MrBeast, whose estimated net worth is approximately $1 billion, has amassed his wealth through YouTube, merchandise, businesses like MrBeast Burger and Feastables, and other entrepreneurial ventures.

However, acquiring TikTok would be a monumental challenge. Factors such as TikTok’s user base, revenue streams (from ads and subscriptions), growth potential, and intellectual property significantly influence its valuation. ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, was valued at over $180 billion in 2021, though this figure includes all of its assets, not just TikTok.

While MrBeast’s fortune is impressive, it falls short of the resources needed to purchase a global platform like TikTok.