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For days, millions of Americans have been waiting anxiously to learn the answer to a pressing question: What will happen to TikTok?
The fate of the popular Chinese social media platform has been hanging in the balance for weeks. Since the U.S. government ruled that it would either need to be sold or face a ban in the U.S. due to data privacy concerns, users have wondered who may buy it.
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Given the massive price tag that comes with the platform, estimated to be over $100 billion by Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives, purchasing it will require significant capital, the type that typically requires a group of investors.
However, some companies have expressed interest in buying TikTok as the April 5 deadline set by President Donald Trump approaches. This bidding war includes some surprising names, including one industry leader that wants to acquire the entire platform.
The bids to buy TikTok are piling up
Prior to President Donald Trump extending the deadline for a TikTok sale, speculation rose that Elon Musk might purchase the platform. The Tesla (TSLA) CEO himself did not issue any statements to support these rumors, nor did he submit any bids to purchase TikTok.
Related: TikTok doesn't hesitate to shut down trending Elon Musk rumors
But plenty of other aspiring buyers have lined up to try and acquire TikTok and as of late yesterday, that list includes Amazon (AMZN) . The tech conglomerate entered the game late but according to the New York Times, it has submitted an offer in writing to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for approval.
Other investors have banded together in hopes of raising enough capital to make a reasonable offer for TikTok. Shark Tank judge and noted investor Kevin O’Leary and real estate mogul Frank McCourt submitted what they have dubbed “the People's Bid for TikTok.”
Related: Kevin O’Leary’s net worth as he eyes TikTok purchase
YouTube personality James Donaldson, known on social media as Mr.Beast has submitted a bid with serial tech entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley. Another bidder is a startup founded by Tim Stokely, the British founder of adult-content platform OnlyFans.
Another tech company has attempted to capitalize on the potential TikTok ban. AI search engine startup Perplexity offered to merge with the platform in January, claiming that such a combination could “create the world's greatest platform for creativity and knowledge discovery.”
The fact that a tech leader with much greater resources has submitted a bit is likely to spell the end of Perplexity’s quest to merge with TikTok, though.