OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, has reached a $500 billion valuation following a transaction in which current and former staff sold approximately $6.6 billion in shares, according to a source with knowledge of the deal.
The latest valuation marks a sharp increase from its previously reported $300 billion, highlighting OpenAI’s accelerating momentum in user adoption and revenue growth.
The stock sale allowed OpenAI employees to offload shares to a consortium of major investors, including Thrive Capital, SoftBank, Dragoneer Investment Group, Abu Dhabi’s MGX, and T. Rowe Price, the source disclosed. The individual, who requested anonymity due to not being authorized to speak publicly, added that OpenAI had approved over $10 billion in secondary market share sales.
Notably, the transaction expands on SoftBank’s earlier investment during OpenAI’s primary funding round, which valued the company at $40 billion.
OpenAI’s rapid ascent is further reflected in financial performance. The company generated roughly $4.3 billion in revenue in the first half of 2025—a figure representing a 16% increase over the entirety of 2024, according to a report by the Information earlier this week.
These developments coincide with intensifying competition among technology giants for artificial intelligence talent, fueled by record-setting compensation packages. In a high-profile move, Meta has reportedly hired Scale AI’s 28-year-old CEO, Alexandr Wang, to run its newly formed super intelligence unit, while investing billions in Scale AI itself.
