OpenAI is reportedly exploring a secondary share sale that could value the company at approximately $500 billion, according to a source familiar with internal discussions.
The potential transaction, if it proceeds, would allow employees and early backers to cash out a portion of their equity amid growing investor interest in the artificial intelligence sector.
The move signals a major leap in OpenAI’s market value, up from a valuation of around $86 billion during a prior tender offer earlier this year.
The fivefold increase reflects the soaring demand for generative AI technologies, as well as OpenAI’s central role in shaping the industry’s future through its widely adopted products, including ChatGPT and its enterprise-focused offerings.
The proposed share sale would not involve the issuance of new shares, meaning it would not raise fresh capital for OpenAI. Instead, it would provide liquidity for employees and some existing investors, offering them an opportunity to monetize their stakes amid the AI boom.
Secondary sales like this are often used by high-growth companies that remain privately held but want to reward early contributors while managing ownership dilution.
The proposed valuation, if realized, would place OpenAI among the most valuable private tech companies globally, surpassing many unicorns and approaching the ranks of tech giants like Meta and Google in terms of strategic influence and investor attention.
It also comes at a time when OpenAI is aggressively expanding its infrastructure, talent base, and global partnerships, positioning itself as a leader in enterprise AI services.
Investors have been closely watching the company’s trajectory since its commercial partnership with Microsoft, which has integrated OpenAI’s technology into its cloud and productivity tools.
With enterprise adoption accelerating and AI deployment expanding across industries, OpenAI is expected to continue driving new waves of innovation and disruption.
Market analysts note that a $500 billion valuation, while ambitious, is indicative of the premium investors are willing to pay for firms at the forefront of artificial intelligence development.
If the share sale proceeds, it would further underscore the unprecedented investor appetite for AI firms and mark a new milestone in OpenAI’s journey from research lab to global tech powerhouse.
Written By Ian Maleve
