OpenAI Eyes $6 Billion Stock Sale at Massive $500 Billion Valuation
OpenAI is reportedly preparing a secondary share sale worth around $6 billion that could value the artificial intelligence giant at nearly $500 billion. The offering would allow current and former employees to cash out shares, with major investors such as SoftBank, Dragoneer Investment Group, and Thrive Capital said to be in talks to participate. Thrive Capital is expected to take the lead in the deal, though discussions remain ongoing and terms may still change.
The valuation surge reflects OpenAI’s rapid growth since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, which catapulted the company into the spotlight as a global AI leader. Earlier this year, OpenAI closed a record-breaking $40 billion funding round that valued the company at $300 billion, followed by another $8.3 billion in fresh capital earlier this month.
Adding to the momentum, OpenAI recently unveiled GPT-5, its most advanced AI model to date, described as faster, smarter, and more versatile across areas such as writing, coding, and healthcare. However, the rollout hasn’t been entirely smooth, with some users voicing frustration over losing access to older models. CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the concerns, admitting the company underestimated how much users valued features in GPT-4o, even as GPT-5 outperforms in most areas.
