OpenAI Surpasses SpaceX with $500 Billion Valuation After Massive Share Sale

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has reached a historic valuation of $500 billion, cementing its position as the world's most valuable startup. This milestone comes following a secondary share sale deal in which current and former OpenAI employees sold approximately $6.6 billion worth of shares.

Previously valued at around $300 billion during a $40 billion funding round led by SoftBank earlier this year, OpenAI's latest valuation has now overtaken Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which is valued at about $470 billion.

Key Details of the Deal

• The secondary sale allowed employees to liquidate shares to prominent investors including Thrive Capital, SoftBank, Dragoneer Investment Group, Abu Dhabi's MGX, and T. Rowe Price.

• Although OpenAI approved the sale of over $10 billion in stock, only about two-thirds were sold, signaling strong confidence in the company's future growth.

• The latest transaction reinforces OpenAI’s rapid revenue growth, with around $4.3 billion generated in the first half of 2025, a 16% increase over the previous full year.

Market Impact and Competition

This development places OpenAI at the forefront of AI innovation and startup valuation, highlighting intense competition among AI giants. Meta, for instance, is aggressively investing billions in AI and recruiting top talent, causing fierce competition for skilled researchers.

Future Outlook

With AI integration expanding into e-commerce, advertising, and content creation, OpenAI is expected to continue growing both its technological capabilities and commercial footprint. Investors are keeping a close watch on the company's ability to generate sustainable revenue to match its lofty valuation.