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OpenAI Share Sale Let Staff Cash Out $6.6 Billion, Report Says

According to the report, more than 600 current and former employees joined the October share sale after OpenAI raised the individual cap to $30 million, alongside a latest valuation of $85.2 billion.

Fact Check
The claim's core facts are confirmed by multiple sources including crypto.news, livemint.com, cnbctv18.com, and panewslab.com: more than 600 current and former employees participated in an October share sale, collectively cashing out $6.6 billion, with an individual cap raised to $30 million. However, the claim's stated valuation of $85.2 billion is materially incorrect. All credible sources consistently report the October 2025 tender offer valued OpenAI at $157 billion, not $85.2 billion. The $85.2 billion figure corresponds to an earlier OpenAI valuation from 2023. Because the valuation figure is a key element of the claim and is factually wrong, the claim as a whole cannot be assessed as likely true despite the other details being accurate.
Summary

OpenAI employees and former staff sold $6.6 billion of stock in October, with more than 600 participants joining the secondary share sale after the company raised the individual limit from $10 million to $30 million, according to the report. About 75 people reached the $30 million cap. The report also said OpenAI’s latest funding valued the company at $85.2 billion. Earlier reporting cited by the existing topic said OpenAI and Anthropic were preparing for potential IPOs.

Terms & Concepts
  • IPO: Initial public offering, when a private company first sells shares to public market investors.
  • Secondary share sale: A transaction in which existing shareholders sell their shares, rather than the company issuing new stock.
  • Liquidity event: An opportunity for shareholders or employees to convert privately held equity into cash.