How to invest in TikTok despite its private status
Investors seeking to gain exposure to TikTok face a challenge—the platform remains private. Owned by ByteDance, it does not offer directv shares to the public. However, two major firms, KKR and SoftBank, provide indirect routes to invest in the popular app.
KKR first backed ByteDance in 2018 when the company was valued at $75 billion. Two years later, the investment firm increased its stake as ByteDance’s valuation climbed to $180 billion. Despite this, ByteDance represents only a small fraction of KKR’s vast portfolio, which manages $723 billion in assets.
SoftBank also holds a stake in ByteDance, offering another way for investors to connect indirectly with TikTok. The Japanese conglomerate has a market value of $153 billion and currently pays a modest dividend yield of 0.14%.
Neither firm has disclosed details about other digital media platforms in their portfolios linked to ByteDance or TikTok.
Without public shares, TikTok remains out of reach for direct investors. Those interested must turn to firms like KKR or SoftBank, which hold stakes in its parent company. Both options allow for indirect exposure, though ByteDance forms just a minor part of their broader investment strategies.
