AppLovin Can Offer TikTok ‘Much Stronger Bid Than Others,’ CEO Says
Palo Alto, Calif., April 4, 2025 – AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ: APP), a mobile technology and adtech powerhouse, can deliver a “much stronger bid” for TikTok than its competitors, CEO Adam Foroughi declared Friday, as the race to acquire the embattled short-video app intensifies ahead of a looming U.S. ban deadline. Speaking to Adweek hours after President Donald Trump extended TikTok’s sale cutoff by 75 days to mid-June, Foroughi touted AppLovin’s unique position to supercharge TikTok’s growth, distancing his firm’s offer from a crowded field of suitors including Amazon, Oracle, and Walmart.
A Bold Claim Amid a Bidding Frenzy
Foroughi’s confidence stems from AppLovin’s ad-driven business model, which he argues aligns perfectly with TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users and $14 billion-plus ad revenue potential. “We’ve built a machine that drives installs and monetization at scale,” he told Adweek, pointing to AppLovin’s $89 billion market cap and its MAX platform, which boosted app revenue for clients by 40% in 2024, per its latest earnings. “No one else can integrate TikTok’s ecosystem with our tech and deliver value like we can—not Amazon, not Oracle, not anyone.”
The statement follows AppLovin’s Thursday confirmation of a preliminary bid for TikTok’s non-China assets, filed with the SEC, as reported by Reuters. With Trump’s Friday executive order pushing the April 5 deadline—set by a 2024 law requiring ByteDance to divest or face a ban—to June 19, the Palo Alto firm now has breathing room to refine its pitch. “Our bid is unique,” Foroughi told Fox News’ Bret Baier on Special Report Thursday night, refuting claims of casino mogul Steve Wynn’s involvement—rumored by The Wall Street Journal—and emphasizing AppLovin’s standalone financial muscle.
Why AppLovin Stands Out
Unlike Amazon’s e-commerce play or Oracle’s data-centric approach, AppLovin’s edge lies in its adtech prowess. The company, which soared from a $2 billion IPO in 2021 to a 2025 titan with $4.8 billion in 2024 revenue, specializes in app monetization and user acquisition—skills TikTok could leverage to fend off rivals like Instagram Reels. “We’re not just buying an app; we’re amplifying it,” Foroughi said, hinting at a synergy that could juice TikTok’s ad yields, already up 27% year-over-year per ByteDance’s last report.
Posts on X reflect the buzz: “AppLovin’s CEO isn’t wrong—$APP’s ad tech could make TikTok untouchable,” one user wrote, while another noted, “Stronger bid? Maybe, but China’s approval is the real hurdle.” Analysts agree AppLovin’s $100 billion-plus global TikTok valuation—potentially $200 billion with its algorithm, per Wedbush’s Dan Ives—outstrips smaller players like OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely’s consortium, though it trails Amazon’s trillion-dollar clout.
Trump’s Tariffs and China’s Leverage
The bid unfolds against Trump’s tariff escalation—54% on Chinese imports, countered by China’s 34% on U.S. goods effective April 10—adding geopolitical heat. Trump, who tied TikTok’s fate to tariff relief in his Truth Social post, told reporters Thursday his “great power” to negotiate could sway Beijing. Yet, China’s foreign ministry has wavered, urging “independent” corporate decisions, leaving ByteDance’s sign-off uncertain. “AppLovin’s bid is strong on paper, but it’s DOA without China,” Michael Ashley Schulman of Running Point Capital told Reuters.
AppLovin’s stock dipped 10% to $260 premarket Friday amid tariff fallout—down from a $510 February peak—though it’s held gains after a 5% pop on bid news Wednesday, per CNBC. Foroughi shrugged off short-seller attacks from Muddy Waters and Fuzzy Panda, which tanked shares last month, telling Adweek, “Our results speak louder than rumors.”
A Crowded Field and an Uncertain Future
AppLovin faces stiff competition. Walmart’s Friday flirtation with a buyer group, per ABC News, joins Amazon’s bid (dismissed as unserious by some officials, per The New York Times), Oracle’s data-focused offer, and Stokely’s crypto-backed play. Trump’s White House, playing dealmaker, met Wednesday to review Oracle’s pitch, per Politico, but AppLovin’s adtech angle has won fans. “If anyone can turn TikTok into an ad juggernaut, it’s $APP,” an X post mused.
With markets reeling—S&P down 4.8% Thursday—and the Fed eyeing four 2025 rate cuts, per CME FedWatch, TikTok’s fate hinges on more than bids. Foroughi’s “stronger” claim may hold tech merit, but as Trump’s tariff chess game intensifies, AppLovin’s victory is far from assured. For now, the CEO’s swagger keeps the spotlight on Palo Alto as TikTok’s clock ticks toward June.
