OpenAI Employees Plan $6 Billion Stock Sale at $500 Billion Valuation

Current and former employees of OpenAI are reportedly preparing to sell approximately $6 billion worth of their stock in a secondary sale, a move that would value the artificial intelligence leader at an estimated $500 billion. The discussions are in early stages and involve prominent investors such as Thrive Capital, SoftBank Group Corp., and Dragoneer Investment Group, according to a tweet by @kateclarktweets of Bloomberg. This significant transaction aims to provide liquidity to employees amidst intense competition for AI talent.

The proposed $500 billion valuation represents a substantial increase from OpenAI's previous $300 billion valuation, which was established during a $40 billion primary funding round earlier this year. If finalized, this valuation would position OpenAI as the world's most valuable private startup, surpassing even Elon Musk's SpaceX. The secondary sale allows employees to monetize their equity without the company needing to go public.

This initiative is a strategic response to the fierce talent war within the artificial intelligence sector, where companies like Meta Platforms Inc. have aggressively recruited top AI researchers and engineers. Allowing employees to sell shares serves as a crucial tool for retaining key talent and providing financial incentives, especially as some OpenAI staff have reportedly moved to competitors. The deal is open to current and former employees who have been with the company for at least two years.

OpenAI's soaring valuation is underpinned by its rapid growth and market dominance, particularly with its flagship product, ChatGPT. The company anticipates its revenue will triple to $12.7 billion in 2025, a significant jump from $3.7 billion in 2024. Furthermore, ChatGPT's user base has expanded dramatically, reaching approximately 700 million weekly active users.

The news of the secondary sale follows the recent release of OpenAI's highly anticipated GPT-5 model, reinforcing its leadership in the generative AI space. CEO Sam Altman has also articulated an ambitious vision for the company, hinting at trillion-dollar investments in AI infrastructure in the coming years. Investors like SoftBank are deepening their commitment to OpenAI, with the Japanese conglomerate having recently closed a separate $1 billion purchase of employee shares at the earlier $300 billion valuation.