OpenAI Proposes a $42.6B Equity Stake to U.S. Government
In a groundbreaking move that could redefine the dynamics between Big Tech and Washington, OpenAI has suggested offering the U.S. government a 5% equity stake in the company. This stake is currently valued at an estimated $42.6 billion, based on OpenAI’s record-breaking $852 billion valuation from its March 2026 funding round.
CEO Sam Altman reportedly presented the idea directly to President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Altman argued that providing the public with a financial interest in OpenAI is the optimal way to share the benefits of AI.
The proposal envisions a government-seeded vehicle modeled on the Alaska Permanent Fund—a state-owned fund that pays annual dividends to residents. It also suggests that other U.S. AI giants, including Google, Meta, and Anthropic, offer similar stakes. However, it is still uncertain whether these companies would agree to such a proposal.
These discussions, described as conceptual and in the early stages, are happening amidst increasing political pressure in Washington over AI’s potential to cause economic disruption and widespread job losses. This move follows a precedent: the U.S. government currently holds a 9.9% stake in Intel after converting CHIPS Act grants into equity. The implementation of these discussions could require an act of Congress, and neither the White House nor OpenAI have officially commented on the proposal.
Source: CNBC – OpenAI proposes U.S. government own 5% stake