Hundreds of OpenAI employees turned into millionaires by selling shares priced at $30 million each.

Short news summary

In October last year, the startup OpenAI allowed employees to sell large blocks of their shares worth $6.6 billion. About 600 people participated in the deal; roughly 75 employees received $30 million each. Some of them donated part of their shares to charitable foundations and took advantage of tax deductions.

Why it matters

- Investment flow: The AI sector attracts huge sums from investors, and companies like OpenAI and Anthropic are preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) this year.

- Opportunities for employees: Employees can quickly become millionaires through share sales. Unlike the dot‑com era, where many holders did not have time to realize gains, today’s market allows wealth accumulation much faster.

- Ownership terms: Initially OpenAI required holding shares for at least two years. The fall sale enabled employees who joined after ChatGPT’s debut to reap significant benefits.

Comparison with the dot‑coms

WSJ notes that in the AI boom era, startup employees are enriching themselves faster and more strongly. While the dot‑com bubble burst before many could sell their shares, today’s market is stable and offers real opportunities.

Compensation and charity

- OpenAI pays top AI specialists up to $500 000 per year plus equity. This exceeds competitors’ offers: Meta offered researchers up to $300 million, and in August last year OpenAI awarded multi‑million dollar bonuses.

- Many wealthy employees direct part of their income to charity, helping mitigate rising housing costs and social inequality in San Francisco.

Share distribution history

OpenAI first distributed shares to employees seven years ago; since then their value has increased more than 100 times, while Nasdaq grew only threefold. Initially the company capped sales at $10 million per person, but last year it raised the limit to $30 million due to high demand.

Internal issues

- Restrictions did not apply to senior leadership (e.g., Greg Brockman with capital of nearly $30 billion), creating a sense of unfairness among lower‑level employees.

- Despite this, OpenAI continues to open opportunities for share sales, supporting price growth and attracting talented specialists.

Thus, the sale of shares at OpenAI demonstrates how fast the AI sector is growing, what financial benefits its staff receive, and what social consequences it has for the local economy.