OpenAI Grants Employees Opportunity to Sell $6 Billion in Stock to SoftBank and Other Investors Following $100 Million Bonuses and Issued Warning

OpenAI is negotiating a secondary share sale that could value the company at an impressive $500 billion. This potential sale involves current and former employees looking to sell around $6 billion in shares to investors such as Thrive Capital, SoftBank, and Dragoneer Investment Group. The strategy aims to retain top talent amid fierce competition in the AI sector, especially from Meta Platforms, which recently poached key personnel, including ChatGPT co-creator Shengjia Zhao. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman criticized Meta’s aggressive recruitment efforts, warning they could create “cultural problems.” In response, OpenAI is enhancing retention strategies with bonuses and equity sales options. SoftBank is significantly invested, previously committing to a $40 billion funding round. If successful, this sale would not only mark OpenAI as the world’s most valuable startup, surpassing SpaceX, but also project revenue to triple to $12.7 billion in 2024.

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