(CNN) – YouTube and TikTok star MrBeast is looking to buy TikTok as part of a group of investors, as time ticks down for the social media company to find a new owner or risk being banned in the United States.
MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, appeared to make a joke on X about buying TikTok earlier this month, but his lawyer says he was actually serious.
Donaldson is the single most popular YouTuber and the third-most popular TikToker, CNN reports.
TikTok went dark Saturday night ahead of a nationwide ban. It came back online about 12 hours later after President Donald Trump announced a 75-day delay on the ban. During that time, TikTok needs to find a non-China-based owner to buy it or face a permanent shutdown in the U.S.
Donaldson’s investment group includes institutional investors and high net worth individuals. The group has not disclosed the amount of the bid.
Meanwhile, other bids have been submitted, including one from a group that includes “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary. Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has also taken steps to buy TikTok, according to the Associated Press.
TikTok has about 170 million American users.
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