Who Owns TikTok in 2025? Everything You Need to Know - TikTok DL

TikTok is a popular short video app worldwide. Launched in 2016 (outside of China) and reached 1 billion monthly active users worldwide in just 5 years. The app has about 170 million users in the United States alone, fueling creative careers, product discovery, and political debate. Join TikTok DL to find out who really owns TikTok

I. Who Owns TikTok?

TikTok is wholly owned by ByteDance Ltd., a private internet company founded in Beijing in 2012 by entrepreneur Zhang Yiming. Here is the market capitalization of ByteDance, a Chinese tech giant:

~58% is owned by global institutional investors such as Susquehanna International Group, General Atlantic, Coatue, KKR, and BlackRock.

~21% is owned by Zhang Yiming (who still controls the majority of voting rights).

~21% is distributed to current and former ByteDance employees worldwide, including about 7,000 Americans.

reuters.com

At the product level, TikTok has its own CEO, ShouZiChew, a Singaporean former Xiaomi executive who has led the app since 2021.

Is TikTok a “Chinese” Company?

Legally, ByteDance is incorporated in the Cayman Islands and operates its global headquarters from Singapore and Los Angeles, but its technical roots and controlling founders are Chinese. The company also maintains Douyin, an app that only serves mainland China and runs on separate servers. TikTok and Douyin use ByteDance’s recommendation algorithm but differ markedly in content, features, and government oversight.

Ownership Controversies & U.S. Pressure

In April 2024, the U.S. passed the Protecting Americans from Apps Controlled by Foreign Adversaries Act, requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations within nine months or face a full ban. The Supreme Court upheld the law on January 17, 2025, reinforcing the deadline. However, President Trump has since granted an extension until September 17, 2025, as discussions with investor groups - primarily Susquehanna and General Atlantic - continue.

TikTok’s Global Footprint

• Offices & Data Centers – Major hubs in Los Angeles, New York, London, Dublin, Singapore and Sydney. U.S. user data is stored on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure under “Project Texas,” while a parallel “Project Clover” handles data for the EU.

• Workforce – Roughly 60,000 employees, with the largest non‑Chinese contingent in the United States.

• Alternate Apps – To satisfy possible U.S. divestiture, ByteDance is reportedly developing a U.S.‑only version scheduled for September 2025 launch should a sale close.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Short Answer
Who owns TikTok right now?	ByteDance Ltd., majority‑controlled by founder Zhang Yiming.
Is TikTok banned in any countries?	It’s fully banned in India; partial or device‑specific bans exist in Nepal, Iran and some Western government agencies.
What’s the difference between TikTok and Douyin?	Separate apps, infrastructures and content rules; Douyin is China‑only and deeply integrated with e‑commerce.
Who is TikTok’s CEO?	Shou Zi Chew (since 2021).
Could TikTok be forced to sell?	Yes - under U.S. law ByteDance must finalize a qualified divestiture or face a gradual U.S. ban after 17 Sept 2025.

 

Conclusion

So who owns TikTok? The short answer remains ByteDance - a global, privately held company still majority‑steered by its Chinese founder but broadly financed by U.S. and other international investors. Whether that answer changes in 2025 depends on high‑stakes negotiations with Washington and potential buyers, but until a deal closes ByteDance’s stake, algorithm and strategic direction all stay intact.