OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has achieved a staggering $500 billion valuation following a $6.6 billion share sale by current and former employees, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on October 2, 2025. This marks a significant leap from its prior $300 billion valuation, reflecting the company’s explosive growth in users and revenue.
The transaction involved a consortium of prominent investors, including Thrive Capital, SoftBank, Dragoneer Investment Group, Abu Dhabi’s MGX, and T. Rowe Price. The deal is part of a larger authorisation allowing over $10 billion in stock sales on the secondary market, the source added, speaking anonymously due to a lack of media authorisation.
OpenAI’s valuation spike is fueled by its rapid revenue growth. The Information reported that the company generated $4.3 billion in the first half of 2025, a 16% increase over its total revenue for 2024. This growth underscores OpenAI’s dominance in the AI sector, driven by the widespread adoption of ChatGPT and its applications in the enterprise.
OpenAI has completed a deal allowing current and former employees to sell about $6.6 billion worth of shares in the company at a $500 billion valuation, according to a person familiar with the matter https://t.co/7kL1GHSD0B
— Bloomberg (@business) October 2, 2025The share sale builds on SoftBank’s earlier investment in OpenAI’s $40 billion primary funding round, signalling strong investor confidence in the company’s future. Neither OpenAI nor the involved investors—Thrive Capital, SoftBank, Dragoneer, MGX, and T. Rowe Price—responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.
The deal comes amid fierce competition for AI talent. Tech giants like Meta are investing heavily, with Meta recently recruiting Scale AI’s 28-year-old CEO, Alexandr Wang, to lead its new super intelligence unit. OpenAI’s ability to attract and retain top talent, supported by lucrative compensation packages, has been critical to its success.
This valuation milestone positions OpenAI as a leader in the AI race, with implications for innovation, market dynamics, and investor strategies in the tech sector.
As OpenAI continues to scale, its focus on advancing AI research and deployment will likely drive further growth. The company’s ability to monetise its technology while navigating competitive pressures will be key to sustaining its trajectory.
