TikTok’s U.S. operations might soon find a new owner in Elon Musk, as China considers selling the popular app to avoid a potential ban. Facing a U.S. government deadline that demands ByteDance Ltd., TikTok’s parent company, divest its U.S. branch, Beijing is reportedly exploring Musk as a possible buyer.

Why is Elon Musk’s name coming up?

While Chinese officials prefer to keep TikTok under ByteDance’s ownership, the possibility of a forced sale has led them to consider alternatives. Musk’s name comes up due to his ties with the Trump administration and his strong business links in China through Tesla.

A TikTok-Musk deal could create a powerful combination, merging TikTok’s massive video platform with Musk’s X social media network. This move could significantly boost ad revenues and provide valuable content for Musk’s AI projects.

Possible ban

However, TikTok’s fate is far from decided. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently reviewing the app’s appeal against the ban, but early indications suggest the law may be upheld. As the deadline approaches, all eyes are on how this high-stakes scenario unfolds—and whether Musk will add TikTok to his growing tech empire.