OpenAI completes $7B share buyback, valuation holds at $852B

Published Aug 11, 09:18 AM UTC

OpenAI has concluded a $7 billion share buyback from current and former employees, maintaining its valuation at $852 billion, as reported by Bloomberg. The move comes ahead of a potential initial public offering (IPO), though the timeline remains uncertain. The company confidentially filed its prospectus with the SEC in June 2026, but internal debates persist: CFO Sarah Friar reportedly favors waiting until 2027, while CEO Sam Altman prefers a September 2026 listing at a $1 trillion valuation. The article notes that SpaceX's recent public debut has raised concerns about investor appetite for large-scale tech IPOs, particularly regarding capital expenditure sustainability and valuation under public scrutiny. This buyback follows previous tender offers of $6.6 billion in October 2025 and $1.5 billion in 2024, highlighting OpenAI's strategy to provide liquidity to employees while delaying a traditional IPO.