OpenAI is preparing a $6 billion secondary stock sale that could value the company at $500 billion, almost double from just a few months ago. The sale, which will primarily allow employees and early insiders to cash out, is drawing strong interest from SoftBank, Thrive Capital, and Dragoneer.
Behind this rise is the rapid surge in users and revenue. Weekly users have grown to about 700 million, up from 400 million earlier this year, while revenue has doubled in just seven months. The company is projected to hit an annualised run rate of more than $12 billion, with ambitions to reach $20 billion by year-end.
While an IPO is not coming, OpenAI is reorganising its corporate structure, moving away from its current model to prepare for a possible future public listing. CFO Sarah Friar has emphasised that the timing will depend on both company readiness and market conditions.
For now, this $6 billion stock sale is a liquidity move for employees and investors, highlighting OpenAI’s strong position in tech. This new valuation also places OpenAI ahead of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, valued at roughly $400 billion, making OpenAI the world’s most valuable private tech company.
