OpenAI Reportedly in Talks for $1.2 Trillion Valuation Round Ahead of IPO

According to the Financial Times, multiple investors have proactively approached OpenAI seeking to participate in a new private funding round at a valuation of roughly $1.2 trillion ahead of its IPO; whether it proceeds and its timing will depend on when OpenAI chooses to go public. If that valuation materializes, it would far exceed any valuation record previously set by an AI company.

Confirmed

The Financial Times reports that investors approached OpenAI to discuss a pre-IPO private round at a $1.2 trillion valuation; whether it moves forward and its pace depend on the IPO timing.
According to scoops relayed by @Hesamation, the round's valuation is up 41% within six months; annualized revenue rose another 20% after the GPT-5.6 release, surpassing $40 billion per year; and the round was initiated by investors reaching out, not OpenAI actively fundraising.
On prediction market Polymarket, the contract for "OpenAI reaching a valuation of $1 trillion or more in 2026" is currently priced at roughly 57%-63%.

Not yet confirmed

Whether the funding ultimately proceeds, along with specific terms and completion timing, has no official confirmation; all related information comes from media reports or relayed scoops.
@Polymarket's flash update is a restatement of reports, and it too notes the information is unverified.

Why it matters

A $1.2 trillion valuation would set a record for the AI industry and the entire private market, underscoring the market's extremely high expectations for OpenAI's IPO prospects.
A 41% valuation jump in six months and annualized revenue surpassing $40 billion reflect accelerating commercialization after the GPT-5.6 release; prediction markets pricing in nearly 60% odds of crossing $1 trillion also show speculative capital's optimistic consensus on OpenAI's scale-up narrative.

2026-09-16 ~ 2026-09-16 · 5 related posts

Primary sources

Investors approach OpenAI to raise at $1.2 trillion valuation before IPO — TheTopObserver · 2026-09-16 06:56 (UTC+08:00)
OpenAI in talks for new round at $1.2T valuation, up 41% in six months — Hesamation · 2026-09-16 06:25 (UTC+08:00)
Polymarket Puts 57% Odds on OpenAI Hitting $1T Valuation by End of 2026 — Polymarket · 2026-09-16 06:48 (UTC+08:00)

[source] OpenAI in talks for new round at $1.2T valuation, up 41% in six months — Hesamation · 2026-09-16
OpenAI reportedly weighing funding round at ~$1.2 trillion valuation ahead of IPO — Polymarket · 2026-09-16
[source] Polymarket Puts 57% Odds on OpenAI Hitting $1T Valuation by End of 2026 — Polymarket · 2026-09-16
[source] Investors approach OpenAI to raise at $1.2 trillion valuation before IPO — TheTopObserver · 2026-09-16

1 near-duplicate retellings: Hesamation