TikTok in America for Sale: Who Is This Mysterious “Very Rich” Buyer?
TikTok, the favorite app of millions of Americans, has been at the center of political and business speculation for months. Chinese company ByteDance must spin off TikTok’s US operations by September 17, or the app will be banned in the US. But who will actually take over TikTok? Former President Donald Trump claims there is a “very rich buyer” and that the name will be revealed in two weeks.
The TikTok drama has been going on for months
Since last year, TikTok has been under pressure from the US administration due to concerns about user data privacy and security. Trump has repeatedly delayed enforcing the law on selling or banning TikTok, and now the deadline for spinning off US operations is approaching.
Who are the potential buyers?
According to sources, several investment funds, tech companies, and private investors are ready to take control of TikTok’s US business. ByteDance would retain only a 20% stake in the new company, and TikTok’s US operations would not cooperate with ByteDance on algorithms and data sharing.
Oracle, currently TikTok’s tech partner in the US, is reportedly the main candidate to buy, along with US investors like General Atlantic and Susquehanna International Group.
Uncertainty about China’s approval
Although negotiations are ongoing at the highest level, it is still unclear whether the Chinese government will approve the sale of TikTok to US investors. Last April, a deal was nearly finalized but fell through after Trump announced new tariffs on Chinese goods.
Alternative offers and ideas
Besides the big investment groups, other offers have emerged. A group led by former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and investor Kevin O’Leary, with support from Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, proposed a “People’s Bid for TikTok” that would modernize the technology and give users more control over their data.
Also, influencer MrBeast and AI company Perplexity have expressed interest in buying TikTok, but details are unknown.
Why does this matter?
TikTok is used by about 150 million Americans for entertainment, information, and networking, and the app is a significant source of revenue. Selling TikTok to US investors could ensure the app’s long-term presence in the US and protect user privacy and security.
Conclusion
As the deadline for spinning off TikTok’s US operations approaches, the world eagerly awaits who this “very rich buyer” Trump talks about will be. Will it be Oracle, an investment group, or someone completely unexpected? One thing is clear — the TikTok drama in the US is far from over, and we’ll be watching every move.
What do you think? Who’s the real buyer of TikTok? Or is this all just another big power game? Drop a comment and let’s see who’s the wildest conspiracy theorist or who has the best prediction!
Source: Blic, CNN
