OpenAI has finalised a $6.6 billion secondary share sale, enabling current and former employees to sell stock at a record $500 billion valuation. The transaction represents one of the largest insider liquidity events in the AI sector, underscoring extraordinary investor demand for exposure to leading generative AI companies.
Unlike a traditional funding round, the deal does not provide new capital to OpenAI. Instead, it allows insiders to convert equity into cash while still retaining a stake in the company’s growth. Sources indicate that up to $10 billion worth of shares were approved for sale, though $6.6 billion ultimately changed hands.
Employee Liquidity and Investor Appetite
The buyer group included Thrive Capital, SoftBank, Dragoneer Investment Group, Abu Dhabi’s MGX, and T. Rowe Price. By purchasing employee-held stock, these investors gained a rare opportunity to secure equity in OpenAI at a valuation that cements the company among the world’s most valuable private firms.
Before this sale, OpenAI was valued at around $300 billion. The new $500 billion valuation positions it ahead of many established global tech companies, reflecting the market’s confidence in its trajectory. That confidence is underpinned by reported revenue momentum: OpenAI generated more than $4.3 billion in the first half of 2025, surpassing earlier full-year figures.
The secondary sale also shifts internal dynamics. Employees who sold shares now have significant realised gains, changing their incentives while providing OpenAI with continued flexibility to attract and retain top talent.
The Broader $500B Milestone
The leap to a $500 billion valuation raises the stakes for OpenAI. Any slowdown in growth, regulatory challenges, or competitive disruption could lead to questions about sustainability. Investors have effectively priced in OpenAI’s ability to maintain leadership in the global AI race.
Nearly at the same time, another “$500 billion milestone” made headlines: Elon Musk’s net worth crossed the $500 billion threshold, making him the first individual in history to reach that level, according to Forbes.
The coincidence underscores how AI companies and their most prominent figures are increasingly influencing global wealth rankings and financial narratives. The parallel underscores the scale of capital now flowing into artificial intelligence and its surrounding ecosystem.
