Sam Altman took to CNBC to address what he called “many inaccuracies” surrounding the proposed US government equity stake in OpenAI.
What we know about the deal
The Financial Times reported that OpenAI proposed giving the US government a 5% equity stake in the company. Based on OpenAI’s post-money valuation of $852 billion following a March 2026 funding round, that slice would be worth approximately $42.6 billion.
The discussions aren’t new, either. Altman first pitched the idea to Trump administration officials back in early 2025, meaning these conversations have been simmering for well over a year.
But the deal comes with strings. The proposal is reportedly conditional on other leading AI companies, including Anthropic, agreeing to similar arrangements.
