OpenAI now the world’s most valuable private company — $500B valuation
OpenAI has authorized a secondary share sale that resulted in the sale of about $6.6 billion in shares to investors including SoftBank, Abu Dhabi’s MGX fund, Thrive Capital and T. Rowe Price. That sale has pushed the company’s valuation up to $500 billion, reportedly overtaking SpaceX’s $400 billion valuation.
Key facts
- Authorized secondary sale: $10.3 billion (authorized), $6.6 billion sold to investors
- New valuation: ~$500 billion (from ~$300 billion)
- Major investors in this round: SoftBank, Abu Dhabi’s MGX fund, Thrive Capital, T. Rowe Price
- OpenAI plans to transition to a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), with its nonprofit arm receiving an equity stake reportedly worth over $100 billion
- Elon Musk, a former co‑founder and early funder, has objected and is pursuing legal action to block the for‑profit transition
Why it matters
OpenAI says the PBC structure will make it more attractive to investors by removing caps on financial returns, allowing it to raise the massive capital CEO Sam Altman says will be needed to build out data centers and AI infrastructure.
Sources
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