who owns tiktok

TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a privately held technology company founded by Chinese entrepreneurs. However, ByteDance's ownership is diverse: roughly 60% is owned by global institutional investors, 20% by the company's founder and Chinese co-founders, and 20% by ByteDance employees worldwide. TikTok itself operates under ByteDance but is incorporated in the Cayman Islands and has major operational headquarters in Los Angeles and Singapore. ByteDance is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government, and many of its investors are outside China, including notable US-based investors. This global ownership structure separates TikTok from direct government control in China, despite its origins.