Openai in Talks for New Funding Round at $1.5T Valuation

WHO:

CNBC - OpenAI, led by CFO Sarah Friar, is involved in discussions with investors.

Techmeme - Investors have approached OpenAI regarding funding.

WHAT:

Techmeme - OpenAI believes its value should be at least $1.5 trillion, which would double the value of the start-up behind ChatGPT and establish it as the world's most valuable private company.

Bloomberg - OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman stated that the company will likely not go public until 2027.

Bloomberg - Anthropic, OpenAI's chief rival, is preparing for its own IPO and has picked Nasdaq as its listing venue, seeking to raise as much as or more than SpaceX in an IPO that could take place as soon as October.

CNBC - OpenAI is considering a new funding round with a proposed valuation of $1.2 trillion.

Techmeme - OpenAI believes its value should be at least $1.5 trillion.

CNBC - OpenAI raised $122 billion at an $852 billion valuation in March.

CNBC - OpenAI completed a secondary share sale totaling roughly $7 billion in August.

WHERE:

CNBC - The discussions are taking place in the context of OpenAI's operations, though no specific location is mentioned.

WHEN:

Techmeme - The funding round is planned before OpenAI's initial public offering (IPO).

WHY:

Techmeme - The funding round is positioned as a way for employees to sell stock and capitalize on demand for OpenAI's technology after new model launches.

HOW:

CNBC - OpenAI is not currently engaged in formal discussions regarding the funding round.

(UPDATED September 16, 2026 19:03 UTC)

OpenAI believes its value should be at least $1.5 trillion, which would double the valuation of the company behind ChatGPT and make it the world's most valuable private company. CEO Sam Altman indicated that OpenAI is unlikely to go public until 2027, while its chief rival, Anthropic, is gearing up for its own IPO and has chosen Nasdaq as its listing venue. Anthropic aims to raise as much as or more than SpaceX in an IPO that could happen as soon as October.

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(UPDATED September 16, 2026 16:01 UTC)

OpenAI, led by CFO Sarah Friar, is in talks with investors about a potential new funding round that could value the company at $1.2 trillion, although OpenAI believes its worth should be at least $1.5 trillion. This funding round is intended to take place before OpenAI's initial public offering and aims to provide employees an opportunity to sell stock amid rising demand for its technology following recent model launches. While discussions are ongoing, OpenAI is not yet formally engaged in negotiations regarding this funding round.