OpenAI Reportedly Proposes 5% Equity Stake for U.S. Government

OpenAI has reportedly offered the US government a 5 percent equity stake in the company as it seeks to ease growing political pressure in Washington, the Financial Times reported, according to a Euronews report by Una Hajdari published.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly discussed a proposal to grant the US government an equity stake in leading AI companies. (Photo: OpenAI)

Based on OpenAI's estimated $852 billion (€749 billion) valuation following its March fundraising round, the proposed stake would be worth approximately $42.6 billion (€37.4 billion).

According to the report, OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman has suggested that other major US artificial intelligence companies—including Anthropic, Google, and Meta—consider similar arrangements, creating a government-owned stake across the domestic AI industry.

The proposal is consistent with Altman's previous idea of establishing a "public wealth fund" that would invest in AI companies and distribute returns to Americans.

The concept draws inspiration from Alaska's Permanent Fund, which distributes a portion of state oil revenues to residents. Anthropic has also proposed a similar "digital dividend" funded through taxation of the AI sector.

According to the report, Altman has discussed the proposal with US President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.