OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is preparing for what could be one of the defining moments in both technology and finance—a public offering that may value the company at up to $1 trillion. As one of the fastest-growing companies in modern history, OpenAI is setting the stage for an IPO that could redefine investor expectations across the tech sector.
OpenAI’s Meteoric Rise Mirrors Crypto Bull Runs as IPO Rumors Intensify
Since launching ChatGPT in November 2022, OpenAI has seen global adoption at a pace unmatched by any other technology product. Within just two months, ChatGPT reached 100 million users—a milestone that took TikTok and Instagram far longer to achieve.
By early 2025, weekly active users had climbed to around 400 million, up from 300 million only months earlier. Industry sources estimate that the number may now approach 800 million—equivalent to more than 3 billion monthly active users when extrapolated.
These figures position OpenAI as the most widely used application in digital history. Now, the company’s next phase isn’t focused on another AI model or product release but on translating its success into financial scale through a market debut.
According to Reuters, OpenAI is quietly preparing for an IPO potentially worth $1 trillion—one that could become the largest public offering on record. Early discussions suggest the company may seek to raise as much as $60 billion, depending on market conditions and revenue growth. Some advisers believe the timeline could accelerate, with a filing possible as soon as 2026.
Corporate Rebuild Points to Trillion-Dollar Opportunity for Big Tech and Funds
Recent organizational changes hint at what lies ahead for the AI powerhouse. OpenAI has restructured its corporate framework, separating its nonprofit foundation from its for-profit entity. The OpenAI Foundation now holds 26% of the OpenAI Group, a figure that may rise if performance targets are met.
Meanwhile, Microsoft’s 27% stake—the result of a $13 billion investment—could rise in value to about $270 billion, marking one of the most successful corporate investments in tech history. Other investors, including SoftBank, Thrive Capital, Dragoneer, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX, also stand to gain significantly.
Key metrics defining OpenAI’s rise include:
- •Revenue growth from under $1 billion in 2022 to an estimated $12 billion in 2025.
- •Losses of roughly $5 billion on $3.7 billion in 2024 revenue.
- •User growth that outpaced every major digital platform in history.
- •Market valuation surging from $29 billion in early 2023 to $500 billion by late 2025.
- •A foundation-to-for-profit structure designed to preserve its mission while enabling flexibility.
CEO Sam Altman has described the company’s spending and losses as a necessary investment in long-term expansion, emphasizing that OpenAI is focused on building a “durable business” capable of sustaining its broader mission.
Founded in 2015 as a nonprofit research lab, OpenAI’s transformation began in 2019 when it adopted a “capped-profit” model, opening the door for major investors like Microsoft. Since then, its trajectory has been meteoric, driven by the widespread adoption of ChatGPT and growing enterprise integration.
If the IPO moves forward at a $1 trillion valuation, OpenAI would immediately rank among the world’s most valuable public companies. Beyond market records, such a debut would mark a defining moment for the tech sector—where innovation, user growth, and global interest converge in one of the decade’s largest financial milestones.