OpenAI rises to become the most valuable private firm in the world

With the recent completion of a secondary share sale, which enabled staff members to sell $6.6 billion worth of stock at a $500 billion valuation, OpenAI surpassed SpaceX's $456 billion valuation to become the most valuable private company in the world. The specifics: The tender offer was open to employees who had held shares for two or more years, and the buyers included Thrive Capital, SoftBank, and MGX. Employees only sold $6.6 billion of the $10.3 billion in authorized shares that OpenAI had made available; several firm insiders ascribed this discrepancy to confidence about future growth. After OpenAI generated $4.3 billion in income in the first half of 2025, surpassing the entire year of 2024, the valuation increased from $300 billion in March. The sale provides OAI staff with the liquidity they need to compete with rivals offering nine-figure compensation packages, and investors are eager to participate in the company's ambitious plans. Even if OpenAI is currently the most valuable private firm in the world, it still feels like there is much more room for growth.