In a transaction poised to reshape the global landscape of technology and media, Oracle founder Larry Ellison and his son David Ellison are emerging as central figures in the acquisition of TikTok’s U.S. operations. The deal, which intertwines politics, media, and control over information flows, could mark a decisive turn not only for TikTok’s future in America but also for the structure of U.S. media power.
TikTok has long been under intense pressure in the United States over concerns about data security and national security. In 2024, Congress passed legislation requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to divest its U.S. business or face a nationwide ban. To comply, U.S. officials initiated negotiations to force a restructuring, ensuring the platform would operate independently of its Chinese parent. As talks advanced, the Trump administration made clear that Oracle would play a central role in the acquisition and data management, even issuing an executive order granting 120 days to complete the transition.
Public reports suggest Oracle, together with private equity firm Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based AI investor MGX, will acquire about half of TikTok’s U.S. business. Other American investors in ByteDance—including Susquehanna, General Atlantic, and KKR—are expected to hold around 30%, while ByteDance itself will be restricted to less than 20%. A new seven-member board will govern the U.S. entity, six appointed by American investors and one by ByteDance. Oracle will oversee data security, algorithm auditing, and retraining, designed to sever technological ties with China.
Yet the most striking element of the deal is not the technical structure but the Ellison family’s growing media empire. Larry Ellison is globally renowned as Oracle’s co-founder, but in recent years he has increasingly supported his son David in expanding into media. This summer, David’s Skydance merged with Paramount, bringing CBS and other entertainment and broadcast properties under Ellison family influence. Backed financially by Larry, the merger turned Skydance into a Hollywood powerhouse. Now, with the potential addition of TikTok—a platform with hundreds of millions of young users—the Ellisons are extending their reach into digital media, bridging traditional networks with next-generation platforms.
If successful, the acquisition would propel the Ellison empire into the ranks of America’s most powerful media conglomerates. Compared with Disney, Comcast, or Warner Bros. Discovery, the Ellisons may not yet rival them in total revenue, but their combination of traditional broadcast networks, Hollywood studios, streaming platforms, and TikTok’s algorithm-driven short video dominance gives them a unique cross-sector influence. Analysts suggest that in terms of shaping public opinion, the Ellisons’ reach could surpass any single legacy media giant. Globally, they would not immediately displace giants like Disney, Meta, or Google, but their hybrid model of “old media + new media” may make them one of the world’s most formidable future media empires.
David Ellison has publicly emphasized that their ventures will be “based on trust and facts,” denying any intent to advance a political agenda. Still, observers note the family’s long-standing ties to former President Trump, raising concerns that media consolidation and political alignment could reshape America’s information ecosystem. Critics warn that if television networks, film studios, and one of the world’s most popular social platforms come under a single family’s control, media diversity in the U.S. may face unprecedented challenges.
The deal itself remains controversial. While U.S. officials insist Oracle’s oversight and retraining of TikTok’s algorithms will address national security risks, experts question whether technological decoupling is truly feasible. Market analysts also dispute the deal’s $14 billion valuation, arguing TikTok’s U.S. operations may be worth far more. Furthermore, the transaction must pass rigorous reviews by U.S. regulators and navigate China’s export control rules, leaving its outcome uncertain.
If finalized, the acquisition would launch TikTok into a new era in the United States while marking a rare convergence of Silicon Valley technology and Hollywood media under the Ellison family. Whether or not they become the world’s largest media empire, one outcome is already clear: the Ellisons are positioned to play an outsized role in America’s public sphere and the future of global digital media.
