San Francisco, CA – Employees of OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, are exploring a massive share sale worth nearly $6 billion that would value the artificial intelligence leader at a staggering $500 billion, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday. The potential deal underscores the company’s explosive growth and the intense competition for a stake in the AI revolution.
Existing investors, including SoftBank Group and Thrive Capital, are reportedly in discussions to purchase the shares from current and former staff.
A Landmark Valuation
The proposed transaction would represent a significant leap in OpenAI’s valuation, increasing it from its current $300 billion mark. According to a report from Bloomberg News, which first broke the story, the discussions are still in the early stages, and the final size of the sale could change.
The secondary share sale would further deepen the involvement of key investors. SoftBank recently led a primary funding round of $40 billion for the company, signaling strong institutional confidence in OpenAI’s long-term trajectory. Other existing investors like Dragoneer Investment Group are also part of the discussions.
Fueled by Explosive Growth in Revenue and Users
The soaring valuation is backed by OpenAI’s phenomenal performance metrics. Bolstered by its flagship product, ChatGPT, the company doubled its revenue in the first seven months of the year, reaching an annualized run rate of $12 billion. According to a previous Reuters report, OpenAI is on track to hit $20 billion in revenue by the end of the year.
User engagement has also skyrocketed. The Microsoft-backed company now boasts about 700 million weekly active users for its ChatGPT products, a dramatic surge from approximately 400 million in February. This rapid adoption has cemented OpenAI’s position at the forefront of the generative AI boom and made its shares a highly sought-after commodity among investors and employees alike.
