Trump finds new TikTok owner in US: Who could the 'new wealthy buyers' be?
Who’s bidding, what’s at stake, and why it matters for TikTok users worldwide
Dubai: President Donald Trump has once again stirred headlines over TikTok’s uncertain U.S. future, revealing this week that a “group of very wealthy people” may soon take over the app’s U.S. operations.
Speaking on Fox News, Trump said a deal is in motion and he expects to announce the buyer “in about two weeks.” He also suggested the Chinese government’s approval may be required, stating that “President Xi will probably do it.”
The remarks come as ByteDance, TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company, faces a looming September 17 deadline to divest its U.S. assets or face a ban under a law signed last year to address national security concerns.
TikTok is currently the fifth-largest social media platform globally, with 1.48 billion monthly active users as of 2025, including 170 million in the U.S. alone.
Here’s a breakdown of the leading names potentially behind the deal:
Who are the possible buyers?
Oracle, Blackstone, Andreessen Horowitz
This trio was part of a nearly-finalized deal in April to take over TikTok’s U.S. unit. Under that plan, ByteDance would retain a 20% minority stake, with the U.S.-based consortium holding majority ownership and operational control.
The People’s Bid for TikTok
A group led by Frank McCourt (former LA Dodgers owner), Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. They’ve pledged to rebuild TikTok’s tech stack to offer better privacy controls and give users more say over their data.
MrBeast, Jesse Tinsley
Influencer Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast, teamed up with Employer.com founder Jesse Tinsley in a lesser-known bid. Their aim is to modernize the platform and improve its monetization model for creators. The current status of their bid is unclear.
Perplexity AI
The AI startup expressed interest earlier this year, claiming it could rebuild TikTok’s recommendation algorithm from scratch while avoiding the creation of a monopoly. The firm has not confirmed if it’s still pursuing the acquisition.
Why this matters
The US government has long expressed concerns over TikTok’s Chinese ownership, citing risks of data misuse, censorship, or influence operations. Trump, who has postponed enforcement of the divestment law multiple times, now appears keen to seal the deal before the deadline.
ByteDance, meanwhile, must ensure that the new structure fully separates TikTok’s U.S. operations from its China-based parent—especially in matters of data governance and algorithm control.
With stakes running high for the platform’s users, investors, influencers, and global regulators alike are watching closely. An announcement is expected before mid-July.
- With inputs from Agencies
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