Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter in 2022, is being eyed by the Chinese government as a potential buyer for TikTok, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. The popular social media app faces a potential ban in the U.S. on Jan. 19 if not sold to an American company.
In January 2025, Bloomberg reported that Chinese government officials are considering selling TikTok’s U.S. operations to Musk if the Supreme Court does not prevent the ban from taking effect on Jan. 19. However, officials prefer to retain ownership of TikTok under China-based developer ByteDance.
On January 10, 2025, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding the law requiring TikTok to be sold to a U.S. company or face a ban. Justices seemed inclined to uphold the law due to concerns over the controversial Chinese ownership of the app’s parent company.
Project Liberty, led by Frank McCourt, has proposed a plan to keep TikTok operational in the U.S. but rebuild it in a way that prioritizes American privacy and security. The proposal involves migrating U.S. users to an American-built digital infrastructure.
Various companies have shown interest in buying TikTok, including Amazon, Oracle, Walmart, and Microsoft. Rumble also offered to acquire TikTok and could reenter the conversation to purchase the app.
Elon Musk and other potential buyers are being closely watched as the deadline for TikTok’s sale approaches. President-elect Donald Trump’s involvement in the process and the impact on American data if the app is shut down are key points to consider.
The federal government’s concerns about TikTok’s ties to China, national security, and data privacy have fueled the push for a U.S. company to acquire the app. Experts and reports have highlighted the intertwined relationship between ByteDance and TikTok, raising questions about data security and ownership.
For more information on the TikTok ban and related topics, you can refer to Forbes’ in-depth coverage:
– Supreme Court Will Hear TikTok Ban This Week—Here’s What To Expect
– Who Is Frank McCourt, The Billionaire Trying To Buy TikTok?
– Why A Powerful U.S. Court Thinks The TikTok Ban Doesn’t Violate The 1st Amendment
– The TikTok Law Gives You A Right To Your Data. Here’s How To Request It
– If Trump Wants To ‘Save’ TikTok, He Might Need It To Get Banned First
– Congress Warns Apple And Google They Must Ban TikTok In January
– If TikTok Is Banned, Americans’ Data Could End Up Back In China
– TikTok Asks Supreme Court To Stop Federal Ban
– TikTok Spied On Forbes Journalists
– TikTok’s China Problem
Stay informed with the latest developments on TikTok and its potential sale as the situation continues to unfold.