OpenAI is preparing for a landmark initial public offering (IPO) that could value the company at up to $1 trillion, positioning it among the biggest listings in history. Sources familiar with the matter said the ChatGPT maker may file with regulators as early as the second half of 2026, though a formal listing could occur in 2027.
CEO Sam Altman confirmed that going public is the “most likely path” as OpenAI scales its AI infrastructure and seeks vast capital to fund next-generation systems. The IPO would unlock broader access to public markets, enable strategic acquisitions, and help finance Altman’s ambitious goal to pour trillions into global AI infrastructure.
The move follows a major restructuring that reduced OpenAI’s dependence on Microsoft. The newly formed OpenAI Foundation now controls 26% of the for-profit entity and holds warrants for additional shares tied to performance milestones.
With an annualized revenue run rate nearing $20 billion, OpenAI’s valuation has soared to about $500 billion. A successful IPO would deliver massive gains to investors such as SoftBank, Thrive Capital, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX, while cementing OpenAI’s status as the leading force in the rapidly expanding AI economy.
The potential listing comes amid a global AI market boom, with Nvidia surpassing $5 trillion in value and peers like CoreWeave tripling since their IPOs—signaling that OpenAI’s public debut could redefine the next phase of AI-driven growth.
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