OpenAI Considers Delaying IPO to 2027 Over $1 Trillion Valuation Demand

OpenAI is reportedly considering postponing its initial public offering until 2027, as CEO Sam Altman insists on a $1 trillion valuation floor that current market conditions may not support, according to three insiders cited by The New York Times.

The company has presented two strategic options to its advisors: wait until 2027 to go public at the $1 trillion valuation target, or lower its valuation expectations to achieve a faster listing. Altman reportedly considers any valuation below $1 trillion “unacceptable.”

Earlier reports suggested OpenAI had secretly filed for IPO with U.S. regulators, targeting a valuation of up to $1 trillion. However, the company now faces additional headwinds from regulatory concerns over AI safety. Sources indicate that the White House Office of the National Cyber Director and the Office of Science and Technology Policy have requested that OpenAI release its next-generation AI models in phased stages due to security considerations.

OpenAI’s IPO journey has been marked by persistent speculation since 2025, though the company has repeatedly denied having near-term listing plans. In October 2025, Reuters reported that OpenAI was preparing for an IPO with a potential $1 trillion valuation, with plans to file as early as the second half of 2026 or formally list in 2027. An OpenAI spokesperson responded at the time that an IPO was not the company’s focus and no specific timeline could be set.

By November 2025, CFO Sarah Friar stated definitively that the company had no current IPO plans, emphasizing a focus on steadily scaling its existing operations. Altman himself dismissed claims of a set listing date during a podcast appearance, though he acknowledged a future IPO remained possible.

Market rumors shifted in early 2026. The Wall Street Journal reported in January that OpenAI was accelerating its timeline to get ahead of rival Anthropic, aiming to begin IPO proceedings as early as the fourth quarter of 2026. At that time, the company was valued at approximately $500 billion.

OpenAI’s valuation has skyrocketed in recent years. In September 2023, the company was valued at $80 billion to $90 billion in a secondary stock sale — tripling its valuation from the start of that year alone.