Is Elon Musk buying TikTok? Viral claims surface after MrBeast’s ‘billionaire’ remark

In view of an upcoming United States Supreme Court ruling, TikTok may be forced to halt its US operations. At a time when news of this incident has flooded social media sites like X (formerly Twitter), popular YouTube sensation Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson has hinted at him or someone else buying the app.

In a post on X, MrBeast had announced, perhaps sarcastically, that he may buy TikTok for American users. However, a while later he updated his followers with a reply claiming that several billionaires had reached out to him in this regard.

While it is not clear if  MrBeast was serious about his intentions or his claims, social media was quick to jump to the conclusion that the world’s richest man and X owner, Elon Musk may be the man interested in acquiring TikTok.

Will Elon Musk buy TikTok?

The Chinese government is considering a plan for Elon Musk to acquire TikTok’s U.S. business

Via: Bloomberg News pic.twitter.com/MEaeI4V2iu

— Steve Gruber (@stevegrubershow) January 14, 2025

Notably, Musk had purchased X, completing the acquisition on October 27, 2022, for a total of $44 billion in a purchase that had shocked many.

Meanwhile, TikTok is staring at an impending ban in the United States unless ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, sells the app by January 19, 2025.

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As per online reports, TikTok's planned shutdown would involve a pop-up message when users try to access the app, directing them to a website with information about the ban. Incidentally, several countries, including India, have banned TikTok for privacy reasons. Regardless, TikTok or ByteDance have not said anything on this matter on their apps or social media handles.