Voice actor and TikToker Hunter Peterson is attempting to crowdfund the purchase of Spirit Airlines to save the company [1].
The effort represents a rare attempt to apply a community-owned business model to the highly regulated and capital-intensive aviation industry. If successful, it could signal a shift in how consumers interact with corporate ownership and distressed assets.
Peterson launched the campaign over a recent weekend, utilizing his social media presence to gather financial support [4]. The initiative gained significant traction online, with a TikTok video detailing the plan reaching six million views [3].
According to data from the campaign, 36,000 people have pledged their support [4]. These backers have committed a total of $23 million toward the acquisition [4]. Other reports describe the scale of the movement as involving thousands of supporters [1] who have contributed millions of dollars [2].
Peterson said the goal of the takeover is to save the airline and explore a model where the community has a stake in the operation [4]. Spirit Airlines is a major U.S. carrier that has faced significant financial headwinds in recent years [1].
The campaign seeks to pivot the airline away from traditional corporate structures. By leveraging the viral nature of TikTok, Peterson has turned a niche financial goal into a broader conversation about corporate rescue, and public ownership [1, 2].
“Hunter Peterson is attempting to crowdfund the purchase of Spirit Airlines to save the company.”
This campaign highlights the growing power of social media to mobilize small-scale capital for large-scale corporate actions. While $23 million is a significant sum for a social media drive, it remains a small fraction of the valuation typically required to acquire a major commercial airline. The project serves more as a proof-of-concept for community-led ownership than a guaranteed corporate takeover.
