Tech
OpenAI completes $6.6 billion share sale at $500 billion
OpenAI completes $6.6 billion share sale at $500 billion valuation, cementing status as top private company globally
OpenAI completes $6.6 billion share sale at $500 billion valuation, cementing status as top private company globally
– OpenAI’s $6.6 billion share sale allows employees to sell stock at a $500 billion valuation, up from $300 billion.
– The sale supports employee retention amid intense competition for AI talent without pursuing an IPO.
Reports indicate that OpenAI had initially authorised up to $10.3 billion for the share sale, although only about two-thirds of this was executed.
The offer was made to eligible employees who had held their shares for over two years, with participation starting in early September.
The recent share sale is OpenAI’s second significant tender offer in less than a year, following a $1.5 billion deal with SoftBank in November.
This transaction solidifies OpenAI’s position as the most valuable privately held company globally, surpassing SpaceX’s valuation of $456 billion.
Talent Competition
Intensified competition for AI talent has emerged, with companies like Meta reportedly offering substantial compensation packages to attract top researchers.
OpenAI is part of a trend among startups, including SpaceX, Stripe, and Databricks, utilising secondary sales to allow employee cash-outs while remaining private.
This strategy aims to retain talent and reward long-serving employees without pursuing an IPO.
