OpenAI Reportedly Floats Handing Washington a 5% Equity Slice

OpenAI has reportedly proposed giving the US government a 5% stake, a position valued at nearly $42.6 billion.

The Financial Times reported the story on Thursday. The administration’s appetite for the deal is unknown.

OpenAI Reportedly Offers Trump Administration 5% Stake 

CEO Sam Altman raised the 5% figure during initial talks with President Donald Trump’s team, per the FT. According to him, allowing the public to hold a financial interest in the company is the best way to distribute the benefits created by AI.

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Based on OpenAI’s latest valuation, a 5% equity stake would be worth approximately $42.6 billion. The company secured a record funding round in March, pushing its post-money valuation to $852 billion. 

OpenAI is also preparing for an initial public offering (IPO). It filed confidentially with the SEC in June but emphasized that timing remains flexible.

The proposal also calls for other US AI firms to transfer comparable equity stakes to the government. However, it remains uncertain whether the firms would adopt the plan.

The concept has a long paper trail. Altman first floated government ownership to Trump personally in early 2025, NOTUS reported. A source told CNBC in early June that the discussions had been in progress for over 12 months.

OpenAI and the White House did not immediately respond to BeInCrypto’s requests for comment sent outside regular business hours.

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