OpenAI is preparing for an initial public offering that could value the company at up to $1 trillion, making it one of the largest IPOs in history. According to sources, the ChatGPT maker is considering a stock market debut as early as the second half of 2026.
Echo Wang reports for Reuters, citing three people familiar with the matter. In preliminary discussions, OpenAI has considered raising at least $60 billion through the offering. The sources cautioned that all plans are in an early stage and that figures and timing could change depending on market conditions.
While an OpenAI spokesperson stated that an IPO is “not our focus”, CEO Sam Altman recently called a public listing the “most likely path” for the company. He cited the immense capital requirements needed to fund his plans for investing trillions into AI infrastructure. An IPO would also enable larger acquisitions and reduce the company’s reliance on its biggest backer, Microsoft, which currently owns a 27% stake.
The preparations follow a complex corporate restructuring that makes its nonprofit parent, the OpenAI Foundation, a significant financial stakeholder. With annualized revenue expected to reach $20 billion by the end of the year, the company is also accumulating significant losses, according to the sources.
