The valuation of OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, has soared to $500 billion, according to financial media reports. This comes after a deal allowing employees to sell a limited number of shares.
If confirmed, the sale, reportedly worth $6.6 billion, would make OpenAI the world’s most valuable startup, surpassing SpaceX, which is valued at around $400 billion. Investors buying the shares included Japanese investment giant SoftBank, venture capital firms Thrive Capital and Dragoneer, and Abu Dhabi’s AI investment company MGX.
OpenAI’s French spokespeople declined to comment on the reports, and its US press office did not immediately respond. SoftBank also declined to comment. Previously, SoftBank pledged to invest up to $40 billion in OpenAI by the end of 2025 if certain conditions were met.
The company’s rapid growth follows the success of its flagship chatbot, ChatGPT, which gained public attention for generating convincing text responses. In March, a deal valued OpenAI at $300 billion, less than three years after the chatbot’s launch.
OpenAI’s revenue in the first half of 2025 reached around $4.3 billion. However, like other generative AI companies, it plans to spend hundreds of billions on computing infrastructure to maintain and expand its services.
The surge in OpenAI’s valuation reflects a growing investor appetite for AI startups. Nvidia recently pledged up to $100 billion in investments, while rival Anthropic raised $13 billion at a $183 billion valuation. Some analysts caution that such high valuations may signal a potential bubble in the generative AI sector.
Despite warnings, OpenAI continues to attract major investments. The company’s rising influence in AI technology and strong revenue growth have contributed to the investor confidence that fueled the dramatic increase in its market worth.
The recent employee share deal demonstrates both the high market demand for stakes in OpenAI and the company’s position as a leader in the global AI revolution, with its valuation soaring to record levels.
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