What You Need to Know About the Owners of TikTok’s U.S. Business

ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, has set up a separate U.S. entity to oversee the app’s American operations, a move designed to distance TikTok’s U.S. business from its Chinese ownership and address longstanding concerns around data security and foreign influence.

The restructuring follows years of scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers, who have warned that the Chinese government could gain access to Americans’ personal data. In 2024, Congress passed legislation requiring TikTok’s U.S. operations to be separated from ByteDance.

Under the new ownership structure, roughly 80% of the U.S. TikTok business is now held by non-Chinese investors, while ByteDance retains a 19.9% stake. The newly created entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, licenses TikTok’s recommendation algorithm from ByteDance but independently manages content moderation, data protection, algorithm security, and software governance.

A managing investor group — comprising Oracle, private equity firm Silver Lake, and investment company MGX — collectively owns 45% of the U.S. business, with each firm holding a 15% stake. Here’s a closer look at the key players.

Oracle
Oracle is a significant cloud computing and database company that works with some of the world’s largest technology firms, including OpenAI. The company had previously explored acquiring TikTok and already supplies cloud infrastructure for the app, hosting U.S. user data.
Under the new arrangement, Oracle acts as TikTok’s security partner, responsible for auditing compliance with U.S. security requirements, overseeing data storage, and monitoring changes to the recommendation algorithm. Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, now the company’s executive chairman and chief technology officer, is a high-profile billionaire with known ties to former President Donald Trump.

MGX
MGX is an AI-focused investment firm based in the United Arab Emirates, with investments spanning semiconductors and data-centre infrastructure. The firm was established by Mubadala, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, alongside Emirati AI company G42.
Through its stake in TikTok’s U.S. operations, MGX may gain influence over strategic decisions related to the platform’s AI development. The firm already backs major AI players, including xAI, Anthropic, and OpenAI, and has participated in a $100 billion AI data-centre initiative announced by President Trump, which also involves Oracle. MGX also maintains partnerships with Microsoft and BlackRock.

Silver Lake
Silver Lake is a prominent U.S. private equity firm with a long track record of technology investments, including stakes in Airbnb, Twitter, Dell Technologies, Tesla, and Waymo. Its role in TikTok’s U.S. business is mainly strategic and financial, providing capital and operational expertise.
Silver Lake has previously partnered with MGX, including during the acquisition of a majority stake in software and chip company Altera last year. The firm has also invested in G42 since 2021.

Other investors
Additional backers of TikTok’s U.S. entity include:

• Dell Family Office, led by Michael Dell

• Vastmere Strategic Investments, affiliated with Susquehanna International Group, was founded by billionaire Jeff Yass.

• Alpha Wave Partners, a global investment firm with holdings in companies such as SpaceX and Klarna

• Virgo LI, linked to Israeli tech investor Yuri Milner, is an early backer of Facebook and Twitter.

• NJJ Capital, the family office of French billionaire and Iliad founder Xavier Niel

• Revolution, the venture firm founded by AOL co-founder Steve Case

• Merritt Way, managed by partners of Dragoneer Investment Group

• Via Nova, an affiliate of General Atlantic