Here Are All the Companies Reportedly in the Running To Buy TikTok Ahead of the Deadline
In the final days before the looming April 5 deadline, a flurry of high-profile suitors has entered the race to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations. Among the latest to join the bidding war are Applovin, Amazon, Oracle, Blackstone, and Andreessen Horowitz, all competing for control of the short-form video app, which boasts 170 million American users.
TikTok faces mounting pressure to secure a deal or risk a U.S. ban over national security concerns. The geopolitically charged negotiations, requiring Beijing’s approval, are also unfolding as President Donald Trump unveils new tariff plans.
Meanwhile, Trump reportedly met with top White House officials on April 2 to review strategies aimed at averting a TikTok ban and discuss a proposal that could secure the app’s future in the U.S.
“It does not feel like these are serious bids for TikTok. It is hard to imagine any of these companies, like Amazon and Oracle, successfully operating just a piece of TikTok,” said David Arslanian, managing director of Progress Partners. “The most logical outcome is to give everyone more time. But logical is not part of the current playbook. With tariffs set to be enacted today, I would guess that this becomes another bargaining chip.”
As the long national saga for TikTok continues, here’s a look at all the players who have thrown their hats in the ring this week. ADWEEK has reached out to all the companies for comment.
AppLovin
Mobile technology company AppLovin has made a bid for TikTok, reportedly with backing from casino mogul Steve Wynn, according to The Wall Street Journal. Its pitch: AppLovin is positioning itself as a solution to national security concerns while promising to fuel economic growth and job creation, a person familiar with the matter told the publication.
Amazon
The e-commerce giant made a last-minute offer for TikTok, The New York Times reported. However, the bid—submitted via a letter to Vice President JD Vance—isn’t being taken seriously by key stakeholders involved in the negotiations, according to NYT.
“Amazon’s reported bid is proof of TikTok’s prowess in ecommerce and the changing nature of how consumers shop and buy,” Jasmine Enberg, vp of content at Emarketer, told ADWEEK in a statement.
