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Sam Altman to Receive No Stake in OpenAI’s New Structure Despite Microsoft’s Major Investment

By  |  October 28, 2025

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman will not receive any equity in the company following a sweeping restructuring plan that gives Microsoft a significant ownership stake, according to Reuters. The move clarifies one of the most closely watched questions surrounding the artificial intelligence firm’s internal organization and leadership dynamics.

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    Per Reuters, OpenAI announced on Tuesday that while Microsoft will take a 27% ownership stake—valued at about US$135 billion—Altman himself will not receive any portion of the restructured company. The decision comes after months of speculation about whether the ChatGPT creator’s co-founder would benefit financially as the organization transitions from its nonprofit origins toward a for-profit model.

    Altman’s exclusion from ownership marks a notable distinction between OpenAI’s leadership and its investors. The company emphasized that the restructuring had been under negotiation for nearly a year, aiming to remove lingering uncertainty and align governance with its long-term commercial and research goals.

    Related: Microsoft Hit with Antitrust Lawsuit Over AI Pricing and OpenAI Deal

    According to Reuters, Microsoft’s new agreement not only secures its 27% stake but also guarantees access to OpenAI’s technology—including future models that may achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI)—until 2032. Still, the focus remains on Altman’s lack of personal stake, a decision that underscores his stated commitment to advancing AI development under a capped-profit framework rather than through personal financial gain.

    The announcement settles one of the most debated aspects of OpenAI’s evolution and signals that Altman will continue to lead the company without direct ownership—a rare position for a CEO at the center of one of the tech industry’s most valuable enterprises.

    Source: Reuters