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OpenAI, the firm behind ChatGPT, has achieved a valuation of $500 billion after a deal in which both current and former employees sold approximately $6.6 billion worth of shares, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters on Thursday.
This new valuation marks an increase from its previous worth of $300 billion, highlighting OpenAI’s rapid growth in both user base and revenue. Reuters first reported details of the stock sale earlier in August.
As part of the transaction, OpenAI employees sold shares to a group of investors including Thrive Capital, SoftBank, Dragoneer Investment Group, Abu Dhabi’s MGX, and T. Rowe Price, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.
The company had authorized secondary market sales exceeding $10 billion in stock, the source added.
Responses from Thrive Capital, SoftBank, Dragoneer, MGX, and T. Rowe Price to requests for comments from Reuters were not immediately available.
This share sale adds to SoftBank’s earlier investment in OpenAI’s $40 billion primary funding round.
In the first half of 2025, OpenAI generated approximately $4.3 billion in revenue, which is about 16% higher than the total revenue it reported for all of last year, according to The Information earlier this week.
The timing of this sale coincides with fierce competition among major tech companies for AI talent, often offering lucrative compensation packages. Notably, Meta is investing billions in Scale AI and recruited Alexandr Wang, its 28-year-old CEO, to lead a new superintelligence division.
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