As the deadline for TikTok to resolve its ownership situation looms on April 5, the landscape of potential buyers for the popular video app has expanded significantly.
Amazon.com has emerged as a contender, submitting an acquisition proposal to the White House for the business previously valued at approximately $60 billion (about Rs. 5,13,272 crore). Additionally, the lesser-known AppLovin is reportedly seeking support for its own takeover bid. This development adds to a diverse range of potential buyers for the ByteDance-owned app amid ongoing tensions between the US and China.
Potential suitors for TikTok range from YouTube stars to technology entrepreneurs and prominent investors, all vying for a stake in a platform that has rapidly gained popularity among young Americans, thereby eclipsing established players like Facebook. Concerns over data privacy and national security have prompted Washington to pursue legal measures against TikTok, culminating in the upcoming deadline set for a decision on its future.
The Chinese government has maintained a reserved stance regarding the forced divestment, which it previously described as “open robbery.” While Beijing would prefer TikTok to remain under Chinese ownership, reports indicate that it might consider an arrangement that does not involve the transfer of the proprietary algorithms that drive TikTok’s popular recommendation system, according to Bloomberg News.
President Donald Trump is expected to meet with senior administration officials to review current proposals, including one involving Oracle Corp., Blackstone Inc., and potentially other investors in a collaborative endeavor, as reported by Bloomberg.
Amazon’s bid was presented to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. However, a source familiar with the discussions indicated that this offer is not being taken seriously by the administration. The company opted not to comment on the proposal.
Even if Amazon’s bid does not gain traction within government circles, its interest could encourage other bidders to increase their offers, potentially inflating the value of the deal. Engaging in the negotiation process may also provide Amazon insights into TikTok’s financial health, including the performance of TikTok Shop, which is emerging as a competitor in the online retail space.
Amazon’s bid joins several other known offers, including one from billionaire Frank McCourt and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, another involving tech entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley and YouTube influencer MrBeast, along with a merger proposal from San Francisco’s Perplexity AI.
According to reports, AppLovin has also entered the mix, with its shares rising by as much as six percent following the news. A spokesperson for AppLovin did not provide a comment when approached.
Trump has indicated his willingness to extend the deadline if necessary. A bipartisan group of US lawmakers enacted a law, signed into effect by former President Joe Biden, last year to address concerns related to the Chinese government’s potential access to sensitive information about American citizens.
This deadline has already been extended once from an original date of January 19. Regardless of Trump’s approval of a proposal, the decision will still depend on the consent of TikTok’s parent company and the Chinese government. It remains uncertain whether ByteDance and Beijing have participated in the discussions thus far.
McCourt stated that he remains committed to his proposal for acquiring TikTok but expressed skepticism about finalizing a deal before the impending April 5 deadline.
“I personally think that’s highly unlikely, but we’ll know more this afternoon or certainly by the 5th,” McCourt remarked during an interview on Bloomberg Television.
© 2025 Bloomberg LP
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
