TikTok’s future in the U.S. is hanging by a thread, with a ban looming and high-stakes discussions happening behind closed doors — and Elon Musk’s name has entered the conversation. Speculation is swirling around an unexpected potential buyer, adding another twist to the ongoing drama. Could a major shake-up be on the horizon for the world’s most popular short video app?
Here’s what we know so far and why one tech billionaire is suddenly in the spotlight.
Is Elon Musk buying TikTok?
No, Elon Musk is not buying TikTok.
While reports suggest the idea of Musk acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations has been discussed, both TikTok and Musk have denied any concrete negotiations. Amid ongoing legal battles over a potential U.S. ban on TikTok, Chinese officials are reportedly exploring contingency plans, including the sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations to Musk’s company, X (formerly Twitter).
This potential sale is part of Beijing’s broader strategy to address escalating U.S. regulatory scrutiny. However, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, continues to resist the idea, pushing for a resolution through the U.S. Supreme Court.
According to Bloomberg, ByteDance values TikTok’s U.S. operations at $65 to $80 billion, making it a lucrative asset. For Musk, acquiring TikTok could provide a significant boost to his artificial intelligence endeavors via xAI, leveraging TikTok’s vast data on 170 million U.S. users. However, Musk’s wealth is tied up in ventures like Tesla and SpaceX, complicating such a major acquisition.
If Musk were to acquire TikTok, experts predict it could reshape the platform’s content policies. Monash University’s Zareh Ghazarian notes that Musk’s libertarian stance on internet regulation might influence TikTok’s approach to content moderation, sparking potential user and advertiser shifts. Critics argue that Musk’s ownership could polarize TikTok’s audience, much like his controversial stewardship of X.
Despite the speculation, TikTok dismissed these reports as “pure fiction.” For now, the app’s fate hinges on whether ByteDance secures legal relief or decides to sell.
