BERLIN, Germany — Tech billionaire Elon Musk has confirmed that he has no plans to bid for TikTok, dismissing speculation that he might be interested in acquiring the Chinese-owned video-sharing platform amid its uncertain future in the U.S.
At the WELT Economic Summit on January 28, 2025, Musk said, “I’ve not put in a bid for TikTok, and I don’t have any plans for what I would do if I had TikTok.”
TikTok’s Uncertain Fate in the U.S.
The app, which boasts approximately 170 million American users, was scheduled to be banned on January 20 due to national security concerns over its Chinese ownership.
However, President Donald Trump granted a 75-day extension, allowing its parent company, ByteDance, more time to find a non-Chinese buyer.
Despite mounting pressure, ByteDance has insisted it has no plans to sell. Several investors have publicly expressed their interest in acquiring the social media platform.
Some of them are YouTube and TikTok star MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary, and Former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt
Musk’s Stance on Acquisitions
Musk, the world’s richest man, was widely speculated to be a potential bidder, given his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter (now X) in 2022.
However, he made it clear that he is not in the business of buying companies simply for financial gain.
“I don’t acquire things just for economic reasons,” Musk said. “It’s not clear to me what the purpose of acquiring TikTok would be apart from economics.”
He noted that his Twitter purchase was about “preserving free speech”, and he doesn’t see the same rationale applying to TikTok.
Valuing TikTok Without Its Algorithm
According to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives, TikTok’s U.S. assets (without its algorithm) are estimated to be worth between $40 billion and $50 billion.
However, much of the app’s value lies in its recommendation algorithm, which determines user engagement and content discovery.
Musk acknowledged that any potential buyer would need to assess the algorithm’s impact, saying, “The first step would be to look at TikTok’s algorithm—how harmful or useful is this algorithm?”
What’s Next for TikTok?
With the clock ticking on Trump’s extension, TikTok remains in limbo, with no confirmed buyer and ByteDance resisting pressure to sell.
Musk’s disinterest leaves the future of one of the world’s most influential social media platforms even more uncertain.
