Who Owns TikTok?

What does ByteDance own?
ByteDance owns TikTok, the international short-video platform with over 1 billion monthly active users, and Douyin, its Chinese domestic counterpart with over 700 million daily active users. The company also owns Toutiao, a news and content aggregation platform; CapCut, a video editing application; Lark, an enterprise productivity suite; Xigua Video, a long-form video platform in China; and Pico, a virtual reality hardware brand. ByteDance's platforms collectively reach billions of users across more than 150 countries.

Is ByteDance publicly traded?
No, ByteDance is a privately held company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and is not listed on any public stock exchange. The company has conducted employee share buyback programs that have implied valuations, with the most recent program in August 2025 valuing ByteDance at over 330 billion US dollars. ByteDance has not announced plans for an initial public offering, and its ongoing regulatory disputes in the United States have made a US listing unlikely in the near term.

Who founded ByteDance?
ByteDance was founded by Zhang Yiming in March 2012 in Beijing, China. Zhang, a software engineer who had previously co-founded real estate platform 99fang.com, built ByteDance around the concept of algorithmic content recommendation. Liang Rubo, a co-founder and Zhang's college roommate, became CEO in 2021 when Zhang stepped down from the role to focus on strategic and research activities. Zhang remains a significant shareholder and strategic advisor.

Where is ByteDance headquartered?
ByteDance is headquartered in Beijing, China. The company's international operations, including TikTok, are managed from a separate entity headquartered in Singapore. ByteDance also maintains major offices in Los Angeles, London, Dublin, and other cities. The Singapore headquarters structure was adopted to provide a degree of operational separation between ByteDance's Chinese domestic business and its international platforms.

How many brands does ByteDance own?
ByteDance operates approximately eight primary consumer platforms and applications, including TikTok, Douyin, Toutiao, CapCut, Lark, Xigua Video, and Pico. The company's portfolio is focused on digital platforms rather than physical product brands. Within each platform, ByteDance operates additional features and sub-products, such as TikTok Shop for e-commerce and Douyin Shop for live-stream commerce in China.

Who owns ByteDance?
ByteDance is a privately held company with no single publicly disclosed controlling shareholder. Zhang Yiming, the founder, holds a significant equity stake. Institutional investors including Sequoia Capital, General Atlantic, SoftBank, and Susquehanna International Group hold stakes in the company. ByteDance has consistently maintained that it is not controlled by the Chinese government, though its Chinese domestic operations are subject to Chinese regulatory requirements. The company's Cayman Islands incorporation structure is designed to facilitate international investment while maintaining founder influence.