"Make TikTok WONDERFUL again"—Kevin O'Leary expresses his continued interest in buying TikTok 

In a bold move that's captivated both Wall Street and social media, Shark Tank's very own Kevin O'Leary has launched an ambitious campaign to acquire TikTok through crowdfunding.

O'Leary declared in a recent Instagram post:

"I'd like to democratize TikTok and turn it into a platform where the user data is protected from the prying eyes of foreign adversaries. It's time to make TikTok WONDERFUL again."

The campaign comes as TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, faces an urgent deadline: divest the platform's US operations by January 19, 2025, or risk a statewide ban. In layman's terms, ByteDance needs to sell the US operations to US ownership, or Americans will simply have no choice but to kiss TikTok goodbye.

The regulation, motivated by worries about data privacy and potential Chinese government interference, has produced what O'Leary regards as a unique opportunity. TikTok's status is uncertain as the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on January 10, 2025, despite having over 150 million US users and an estimated $16 billion in yearly income.

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Kevin O'Leary’s ‘Wonderful’ plan to acquire TikTok

Unlike traditional corporate takeovers, O'Leary's approach, while certainly unconventional for a man of his means, is remarkably inclusive. Through the crowdfunding platform StartEngine, his "Mr. Wonderful's Plan to Buy TikTok" initiative invites everyday Americans to invest as little as $1,000 for an equity stake.

"Join me, and let's make history together,"

Kevin O'Leary urges potential investors, as he positions the acquisition as a chance to transform TikTok into a truly American enterprise.

Kevin O'Leary's confidence in the venture is unwavering and something of an inspiration. He boldly declared to Fox News,

"Not going to get banned because I'm gonna buy it."

He's particularly focused on addressing security concerns, stating,

"This is not about free speech, that's why they're going to lose at the Supreme Court, this is about Chinese spyware. This thing drips with spyware."

Known affectionately as "Mr. Wonderful" to millions of Shark Tank viewers, Kevin O'Leary has built a reputation as a shrewd investor with an eye for opportunity and a penchant for taking risks.

His business acumen was first widely recognized when he sold The Learning Company to Mattel for $4.2 billion in 1999. Since then, he's become a prominent figure in both entrepreneurial and entertainment circles, known for his direct communication style and strategic investment approach.

O'Leary's vision for TikTok extends beyond mere ownership. Despite ByteDance's reluctance to include TikTok's algorithm in any potential sale, O'Leary remains optimistic about the platform's potential.

"This is worth billions; it's one of the most successful advertising platforms in social media today. All my companies use it. I'll buy it," he asserts.

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Kevin O'Leary races against time to acquire TikTok

The clock is ticking for TikTok's future in America. While other possible purchasers, such as former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, have indicated interest, Kevin O'Leary's crowdfunding method stands out for its original attitude and well-thought-out plan of amassing a large amount of capital quickly, all domestically.

According to sources close to the sale, "This will be something that is purchased with only domestic money," which is consistent with regulatory standards and national security considerations.

As the January 2025 deadline approaches, Kevin O'Leary's campaign gains pace. Through the StartEngine page on WonderTikTok, he invites Americans to participate in what may be one of the most major tech purchases in recent history. It remains to be seen whether this democratic approach to company acquisition will be successful, but it is clearly testing established conceptions of how large technology transactions are conducted.

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Stay tuned to find out if the proposed ban on TikTok goes through on Friday in the Supreme Court.