MrBeast has claimed that “many billionaires” want to help him save the social media platform from a US ban
YouTube star Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, has drawn widespread attention with an offer to purchase TikTok, to prevent its potential ban in the United States.
The 2024 Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) requires ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based owner, to divest its US operations by January 19, 2025, or face an outright ban in the country.
“Okay fine, I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned,” MrBeast wrote in a post on X on Tuesday. The remark by YouTube’s top creator, who boasts over 340 million subscribers, has generated significant online discussion, with both fans and fellow influencers weighing in on the feasibility of such an ambitious move.
“Unironically, I’ve had so many billionaires reach out to me since I tweeted this, let’s see if we can pull this off,” the YouTuber added in a follow-up post. Many users pointed out the immense financial and regulatory challenges that would accompany such a deal.
Unironically I’ve had so many billionaires reach out to me since I tweeted this, let’s see if we can pull this off 🙌🏻
TikTok faces a potential nationwide ban just one day before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, unless the Supreme Court intervenes to overturn or delay the law’s implementation.
While no official offers or plans have been announced, one potential scenario involves Elon Musk stepping in as a buyer, given his high-profile acquisition of Twitter (now X) in 2022, according to Bloomberg. In response to these reports, TikTok stated that it “can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction.”
MrBeast, who has over 106 million followers on TikTok, is one of the platform’s most prominent creators. His posts have fueled further speculation about whether he, Musk or another prominent US entrepreneur could assemble a group of investors to save the platform.
TikTok has been under scrutiny in the US for years over concerns about user data privacy and its alleged ties to the Chinese government.
In March 2023, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was subjected to a five-hour congressional hearing, during which lawmakers grilled him on the platform’s data handling practices. Although TikTok has taken steps to address these concerns – such as partnering with US-based Oracle to store user data domestically – President Joe Biden signed PAFACA, citing national security risks.
