“We have the tech”— Shark Tank’s Kevin O'Leary defends offer against Mr. Beast to acquire TikTok

When the world's most anticipated game of corporate musical chairs began with Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary being a key player, internet sensation MrBeast threw his hat into the ring. Kevin O'Leary wasn't about to let the moment slip by quietly. "We have the tech," he boldly declared, defending his $20 billion cash offer for TikTok against emerging competitors.

He said:

“So now it comes back to which group — I don't care how many people announced this — has the tech to support this. And as far as I know, it's only the McCourt-O'Leary bid. We have the tech."

The stage? A high-stakes battle over the future of the world's most popular short-form video platform. TikTok, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, faces a potential U.S. ban unless it finds an American buyer. With the Supreme Court upholding a congressional mandate and tensions running high, the race to acquire TikTok has become a tech world thriller that would make Silicon Valley screenplay writers jealous.

Internet creator Jimmy Donaldson — better known as MrBeast — briefly set social media ablaze with his potential interest. "I've had so many billionaires reach out to me since I tweeted this, let's see if we can pull this off," he posted, sending speculation into overdrive.

What is the Kevin O'Leary and Frank McCourt proposal status?

Kevin O'Leary and billionaire entrepreneur Frank McCourt aren't just throwing money at the problem. They're promising a complete technological overhaul. Kevin O'Leary explained:

"The most, not troubling, but difficult part of this is in the fifth and sixth page of that order two Fridays ago from the Supreme Court, it specifically outlines: not a single line of code can be used from the existing Chinese algorithm. That's 5 billion codes nobody can use,"

The acquisition isn't just a business deal — it's a geopolitical dance. "The only two that can decide what's going to happen here are [President Donald] Trump and Xi [Jinping]," O'Leary noted.

"And so Xi has not yet indicated if he wants to sell it, that's the next step."

Despite the buzz, MrBeast's involvement remains uncertain. His representative confirmed to the Associated Press that:

"Several buyers are holding ongoing discussions with Jimmy… He has no exclusive agreements with any of them."

The legal landscape adds complexity to the potential sale. The Supreme Court has upheld a bipartisan law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a U.S. ban, citing national security concerns. The platform briefly went dark for millions of users, adding dramatic tension to an already suspenseful narrative.

What sets the McCourt-O'Leary bid apart?

"We've been to the Hill this week talking to senators and congressmen about what we've got," O'Leary explained.

He elaborated:

"We can move it over without a single line of Chinese code and allow Americans to sequester their own data so there's no leakage."

President Trump adds a twist

President Trump has added another twist, extending the divest-or-ban deadline by 75 days on his first day back in the Oval Office. This move gives TikTok more breathing room in its quest for an American home. Trump's relationship with the platform is complex and deeply personal.

During his previous administration, he attempted to ban TikTok through executive orders, citing national security concerns about potential data sharing with the Chinese government.

He previously stated he would "most likely" give TikTok a 90-day extension, as Kevin O'Leary predicted, signaling a potential openness to negotiation. Political analysts suggest this extension could be a strategic move, allowing for more comprehensive negotiations and potentially creating opportunities for American tech investors.

Moreover, Trump's stance reflects broader bipartisan concerns about technological sovereignty and data privacy. By providing this additional time, he's effectively creating a window for potential buyers like Kevin O'Leary and Frank McCourt to refine their proposals and address national security concerns comprehensively.

As the digital world holds its breath, one thing remains clear: the TikTok acquisition is far from a done deal. With multiple players, political complications, and technological challenges, this saga is just beginning.

Kevin O'Leary's confident declaration — "We have the tech" — might just be the opening line of a much larger story.

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President Trump signed an executive order extending the deadline for TikTok to either sell or face a ban by 75 days, giving it more time to find a buyer.