Who owns ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is owned by OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence research company. OpenAI operates as a hybrid organization, combining for-profit and nonprofit structures. The company’s ownership is shared among investors, key stakeholders, and its nonprofit parent entity, OpenAI Inc.
History of ChatGPT
ChatGPT was first introduced by OpenAI in November 2022 as a conversational AI model based on GPT-3.5. It quickly gained popularity for its advanced natural language processing capabilities, attracting millions of users within weeks of its launch. The chatbot demonstrated a remarkable ability to generate human-like text, making it useful for a wide range of applications, from customer support to content creation.
Following the success of ChatGPT, OpenAI released GPT-4 in March 2023, further improving ChatGPT’s performance with enhanced accuracy, reasoning abilities, and multimodal capabilities. This iteration allowed ChatGPT to process both text and images, making it even more powerful.
In 2024, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Enterprise, a version tailored for businesses, offering higher security, faster performance, and greater customization. The company continues to innovate, integrating ChatGPT into various products such as Microsoft’s Bing Chat and Office applications. OpenAI’s advancements in generative AI have positioned ChatGPT as one of the most influential AI tools in the industry.
Who Owns ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is primarily owned and developed by OpenAI. The company operates under a unique structure where OpenAI LP (a capped-profit entity) is controlled by OpenAI Inc., a nonprofit organization. The majority of OpenAI’s funding comes from investors, with Microsoft being the largest external shareholder.
Here’s a list of the top shareholders of ChatGPT:
| Shareholder | Estimated Ownership % | Role/Type | Governance Control |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAI Nonprofit | 0% (nonprofit entity) | Controlling entity | Yes (full control) |
| Microsoft | ~49% | Strategic investor | No |
| Sam Altman & Founding Team | ~10–12% | Founders and executives | No (operational) |
| OpenAI Employees & Alumni | ~15–20% | Employees (past/present) | No |
| Khosla Ventures | ~1–2% | Early venture investor | No |
| Thrive Capital | ~2–3% | Secondary share buyer | No |
| Sequoia Capital | ~1–2% | Early-stage investor | No |
| Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) | ~1% | Secondary investor | No |
| Institutional Investors | ~2–5% (combined) | Strategic & passive funds | No |
OpenAI Nonprofit
Estimated stake: Controls 100% of OpenAI LP’s governance; owns no economic stake.
OpenAI Nonprofit holds final control over OpenAI LP, even though it does not own a traditional percentage stake in the for-profit entity. It controls the board and can override any decision, including those involving product development, partnerships, and mission alignment.
The nonprofit ensures that the capped-profit model is enforced and that no investor can extract unlimited returns. It exists solely to guide the organization toward its original mission of safe and equitable AGI development.
Microsoft
Estimated stake: ~49% of OpenAI LP’s economic interest.
Microsoft is the largest outside investor in OpenAI LP. Through a combination of direct cash investment and in-kind contributions like cloud computing credits, Microsoft acquired a roughly 49% stake. This gives it significant economic interest in OpenAI’s success but no voting rights or control over governance.
Microsoft has exclusive licensing rights to integrate OpenAI models into Azure, Windows, Office, and its Bing and Copilot ecosystems. This partnership has led to a commercial boom for both firms.
Sam Altman and the Founding Team
Estimated stake (combined): ~10–12%
Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, and other founders hold equity stakes earned through their foundational roles. While Altman himself has said he does not hold equity in OpenAI personally, he is indirectly connected through trusts or associated vehicles. Greg Brockman and other key team members are believed to hold equity in the range of low single digits each.
These stakes do not come with overriding control. However, as leaders, they play essential roles in product vision and company strategy.
OpenAI Employees and Alumni
Estimated stake: ~15–20%
OpenAI has reserved a significant portion of equity for employees and early contributors. These shares are awarded through stock-based compensation. Some have been sold in tender offers, allowing employees to liquidate their equity.
This group holds financial interest but does not participate in governance decisions at the nonprofit level. However, many employees do shape the company’s research and safety approach.
Khosla Ventures
Estimated stake: ~1–2%
Khosla Ventures was among the earliest venture backers after OpenAI converted into a capped-profit structure in 2019. The firm’s stake is relatively small but was crucial in helping OpenAI raise its first for-profit capital.
Vinod Khosla has supported OpenAI’s AI-safety stance and advocates for U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence development.
Thrive Capital
Estimated stake: ~2–3%
Thrive Capital led a major tender offer in 2023, purchasing employee shares that valued OpenAI at around $80 billion. Thrive’s shares do not grant governance rights, but the firm benefits financially as OpenAI’s valuation grows.
Thrive is focused on long-term backing of transformative technologies and sees OpenAI as central to the future of enterprise and consumer AI.
Sequoia Capital
Estimated stake: ~1–2%
Sequoia Capital invested in OpenAI’s early funding rounds. Its share remains modest, but Sequoia’s strategic role in helping OpenAI navigate growth and public perception is valuable.
It is also involved in advising and connecting OpenAI to talent, enterprise partners, and downstream applications.
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
Estimated stake: ~1%
Andreessen Horowitz joined OpenAI’s investor roster by purchasing a small number of employee-held shares. Its position is mainly financial, with no governance power. The firm sees OpenAI as a foundational layer in the next wave of software and productivity tools.
Institutional and Strategic Investors
Estimated stake (combined): ~2–5%
Various unnamed institutional investors—including sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and tech-focused venture funds—have gained access to OpenAI through secondary offerings. Their stakes are small but represent interest from a global investor base.
Who Controls ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is developed and maintained by OpenAI, but it is not controlled like a typical tech startup. Its control structure is unique, combining a nonprofit board, a capped-profit subsidiary, and a set of governance safeguards to prevent unilateral corporate or investor dominance.
OpenAI Nonprofit: The governing authority
The ultimate control of ChatGPT lies with OpenAI Nonprofit, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Although the for-profit arm, OpenAI LP, conducts business operations and raises capital, the nonprofit holds final decision-making authority over everything, including leadership appointments, safety measures, strategic partnerships, and research direction.
The nonprofit owns a “special class” of shares that gives it the ability to override any investor or executive decision if it threatens the mission of aligning AGI with human values. This unique setup is meant to prevent profit-driven motives from overpowering the ethical responsibility of AI development.
The Board of Directors: Key decision-makers
The board of OpenAI Nonprofit has the power to:
- Appoint or remove the CEO and other leadership
- Approve or block major corporate decisions
- Ensure adherence to the capped-profit model
- Safeguard alignment with OpenAI’s mission
As of late 2023, the board included:
- Bret Taylor (Chairman): Former co-CEO of Salesforce and board member at Twitter
- Larry Summers: Former U.S. Treasury Secretary
- Adam D’Angelo: CEO of Quora and early OpenAI supporter
- Helen Toner: Director at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (resigned in 2023)
- Tasha McCauley: Tech entrepreneur and security advisor
- Sam Altman (temporarily removed in 2023, later reinstated)
The board plays a mission-first oversight role, unlike typical corporate boards that prioritize shareholder returns.
CEO: Sam Altman
Sam Altman is the CEO of OpenAI and one of its original co-founders. A former president of Y Combinator, Altman is seen as a visionary leader in artificial intelligence. He oversees daily operations, high-level partnerships (like with Microsoft), and public engagement.
Although Altman has enormous operational control, he does not have voting power over governance decisions unless acting as a board member. His role is to guide OpenAI’s growth, manage research initiatives, and maintain safety standards in deployment.
In late 2023, Altman was briefly fired by the nonprofit board due to transparency concerns but was quickly reinstated following internal backlash and public pressure. This event revealed the tension between governance and management, emphasizing that even the CEO can be overruled by the nonprofit board.
No investor control: A capped-profit safeguard
OpenAI’s unique capped-profit model ensures that no investor—including Microsoft—can control the company. Investor returns are limited to 100x of their original investment. After that, any additional value generated must benefit the public good.
This structure prevents takeover attempts or pressure to prioritize profit over safety. It also guarantees that future AGI developments stay aligned with OpenAI’s founding principles.
ChatGPT Market Share and Competitors
ChatGPT is one of the dominant players in the AI chatbot industry, with a significant market share. As of 2024, ChatGPT holds an estimated 60% market share in the AI-powered chatbot sector, largely due to its widespread adoption in business applications, customer service, and content generation.
However, it faces competition from several AI models and chatbots developed by tech giants and startups.
Google Gemini (20% Market Share)
Google Gemini (formerly Bard) is Google’s primary competitor to ChatGPT. Launched in 2023, Gemini offers advanced AI capabilities, including deep integration with Google Search, Gmail, and Google Docs. It has gained traction among users who rely on Google’s ecosystem. Despite its powerful search capabilities, ChatGPT remains the preferred choice for creative content generation and coding assistance.
Anthropic Claude (10% Market Share)
Anthropic, an AI research company founded by former OpenAI employees, developed Claude, an AI chatbot focused on safety and reliability. While it holds around 10% market share, it is widely recognized for its ethical AI approach and strict adherence to user safety. Claude is favored by businesses prioritizing compliance and responsible AI usage, but has not yet reached ChatGPT’s level of mass adoption.
Meta’s Llama (5% Market Share)
Meta’s Llama models, particularly Llama 2, have emerged as strong competitors in the AI chatbot landscape. With around 5% market share, Llama is primarily used by developers and businesses looking for open-source AI solutions. Unlike ChatGPT, which operates within OpenAI’s controlled ecosystem, Llama’s open-source nature allows for greater customization but lacks the same level of user-friendly applications.
Mistral AI (5% Market Share)
Mistral AI is a European AI startup known for developing high-performance language models optimized for speed and efficiency. Holding a 5% market share, Mistral’s models are gaining popularity among enterprises looking for AI solutions tailored for specific business needs. However, it has yet to match ChatGPT’s versatility and widespread usage.
Annual Revenue and Net Worth of ChatGPT
In 2024, ChatGPT alone generated an estimated $1.58 billion in revenue. This includes income from:
- ChatGPT Plus subscriptions ($20/month per user)
- Enterprise contracts under ChatGPT Business and Enterprise
- API usage specifically related to chat-based interactions
ChatGPT reportedly accounted for over 40% of OpenAI’s total $3.7 billion revenue in 2024. This made it the single largest revenue-generating product in OpenAI’s portfolio, surpassing even Codex (used in GitHub Copilot) and Whisper.
For 2025, ChatGPT is projected to bring in $4.2 to $5 billion in revenue, depending on continued enterprise adoption and subscription growth. The rise of ChatGPT Enterprise, which offers private cloud deployments and advanced features, is a key driver in this growth.
Though ChatGPT is not a standalone company, analysts estimate its implied valuation—if it were to be spun off or separately acquired—would be around $90–100 billion as of 2025. This is based on:
- Recurring revenue from millions of users
- Deep enterprise penetration
- Intellectual property value (language model infrastructure and training data)
- Integration across Microsoft’s ecosystem
This valuation assumes a 20–25x revenue multiple, typical for high-growth AI SaaS products in current market conditions.
Here’s an overview of the ChatGPT revenue and net worth from 2022-25:
| Year | ChatGPT Revenue (Est.) | Implied Valuation (Est.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ~$10 million | ~$500 million | Limited beta usage after November launch |
| 2023 | ~$525 million | ~$25–30 billion | ChatGPT Plus launched; rapid user growth |
| 2024 | ~$1.58 billion | ~$65–70 billion | Major enterprise adoption begins |
| 2025 | Projected $4.2–5 billion | Projected $90–100 billion | Projected valuation based on revenue multiple |
Brands Owned by ChatGPT
Here’s a list of the brands owned by ChatGPT:
| Brand/Company | Description | Key Features/Services |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Plus | A premium subscription service providing enhanced access to GPT-4 for a monthly fee. | – Faster response times – Priority access during high traffic – Access to GPT-4 |
| ChatGPT Enterprise | Tailored for businesses, offering security, customization, and advanced features. | – Private cloud hosting – Enhanced security and compliance – Customizable for enterprise needs |
| GPT-4 API | API access to GPT-4, enabling developers to integrate ChatGPT capabilities into their apps. | – Used for chatbots, content generation, coding assistance, etc. – Customizable for developers |
| ChatGPT Mobile App | A mobile version of ChatGPT available for iOS and Android, allowing access on the go. | – Optimized for smartphones and tablets – Access to ChatGPT’s full capabilities on mobile devices |
| Custom GPTs | Customizable GPTs that allow users to fine-tune ChatGPT’s behavior and personality for specific tasks. | – Personalizable chatbots – Custom instructions and capabilities – Tailored experiences |
| ChatGPT for Education | ChatGPT integrated into educational platforms to assist with tutoring, content creation, and more. | – Personalized tutoring – Homework assistance – Lesson plan generation and quiz creation |
| ChatGPT in Healthcare | Application of ChatGPT for healthcare, including customer service, mental health support, and more. | – Mental health assistance – Appointment scheduling – Medical query responses – Administrative support |
ChatGPT Plus
ChatGPT Plus is a premium subscription plan introduced by OpenAI to provide users with access to the more advanced versions of the ChatGPT model. For a monthly fee of $20, users gain access to faster response times, priority access during high traffic, and access to GPT-4, which offers improved capabilities over the free tier (which uses GPT-3.5).
While ChatGPT Plus is a direct extension of the ChatGPT service, it operates as a branded product within the broader ecosystem, offering enhanced functionalities and making the user experience more robust.
ChatGPT Enterprise
ChatGPT Enterprise is a tailored solution for businesses and organizations that want to integrate advanced AI capabilities into their workflows. It offers enhanced security, customization, and administrative tools, designed to help companies use ChatGPT more efficiently in customer service, content generation, coding assistance, and data analysis.
This version of ChatGPT is hosted on private clouds, ensuring data security, privacy, and compliance with corporate policies. As part of OpenAI’s monetization strategy, ChatGPT Enterprise is aimed at large organizations, contributing significantly to revenue growth.
GPT-4 API
While not a traditional “brand,” the GPT-4 API enables developers to integrate ChatGPT’s advanced capabilities into their applications. The API allows for the use of GPT-4 in custom applications, such as chatbots, virtual assistants, content creation tools, and more.
Businesses that purchase access to GPT-4 API are essentially accessing the power behind ChatGPT, extending its capabilities into numerous industries. This is an essential offering that empowers third-party developers to build products based on ChatGPT’s architecture.
ChatGPT Mobile App
The ChatGPT Mobile App extends the functionality of ChatGPT to smartphones and tablets, allowing users to access the AI chatbot on the go. The app, available for both iOS and Android, brings the power of ChatGPT to millions of users worldwide.
This app is designed to provide an optimized user experience, with a sleek interface and quick access to ChatGPT’s features. By launching this app, OpenAI was able to increase its accessibility and attract a broader user base, ensuring that people could use ChatGPT anytime, anywhere.
Custom GPTs
Custom GPTs is a relatively new feature that allows users to create their own versions of ChatGPT with personalized instructions and capabilities. By fine-tuning the language model, users can customize it to suit their specific needs, whether for fun, business, or educational purposes.
This product allows individuals and businesses to develop specialized, task-specific chatbots powered by ChatGPT. It gives users the flexibility to build unique experiences based on the core GPT-4 model, while leveraging the interactive capabilities of the platform.
ChatGPT for Education
ChatGPT for Education is an emerging brand that focuses on enhancing learning experiences by integrating ChatGPT into educational platforms. By providing personalized tutoring, homework assistance, and content generation, ChatGPT offers support to both students and educators.
It has been incorporated into various educational tools, acting as an AI-powered assistant to help with explanations, lesson plans, and even creating interactive quizzes. ChatGPT’s educational use case is rapidly expanding as schools and universities recognize its potential as a supplementary tool for teaching and learning.
ChatGPT in Healthcare
ChatGPT for Healthcare refers to the use of ChatGPT in the medical industry, offering support in customer service, mental health assistance, and diagnostic support. Some health-tech companies have integrated ChatGPT into their platforms, where it can help answer medical queries, book appointments, or guide patients through common medical processes.
While still in its early stages, ChatGPT is beginning to see application in healthcare, particularly in areas such as mental health support (as a conversational AI therapist) and administrative tasks, helping organizations automate processes and improve patient interactions.
Conclusion
So, who owns ChatGPT? OpenAI is the legal owner, with OpenAI Nonprofit at the helm. Microsoft is the largest investor but does not own or control ChatGPT. The real power lies with the nonprofit board that governs the company’s mission. With strong financial backing and industry influence, ChatGPT is positioned to remain a major player in AI for years to come.
FAQs
Who created ChatGPT?
ChatGPT was created by OpenAI, an AI research lab founded in 2015 by Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and others.
Is Microsoft the owner of ChatGPT?
No, Microsoft is a major investor but does not own or control ChatGPT. It holds a large minority stake in OpenAI LP.
Can you buy stock in ChatGPT?
You cannot buy ChatGPT stock directly. OpenAI is a private company, and its shares are not publicly traded.
Who runs OpenAI?
Sam Altman is the CEO, and the company is governed by the board of OpenAI Nonprofit.
Does Elon Musk own ChatGPT?
Elon Musk was a co-founder of OpenAI but is no longer involved in the company. He does not own ChatGPT.
Who owns ChatGPT now?
ChatGPT is owned by OpenAI, a research organization and company that develops artificial intelligence technologies. OpenAI operates both a nonprofit arm (OpenAI Nonprofit) and a for-profit subsidiary (OpenAI LP), with the nonprofit overseeing the governance and direction of OpenAI.
Who is ChatGPT owner?
The owner of ChatGPT is OpenAI, which was co-founded by Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and others. However, Sam Altman currently serves as the CEO of OpenAI and plays a key role in overseeing the development of ChatGPT.
How does ChatGPT make money?
ChatGPT makes money primarily through:
- ChatGPT Plus subscriptions ($20 per month for premium access)
- ChatGPT Enterprise subscriptions, offering businesses enhanced features and security
- API usage, where businesses and developers pay to integrate ChatGPT’s AI capabilities into their apps and services
Who bought ChatGPT?
ChatGPT has not been bought by any individual or company. OpenAI remains the owner of ChatGPT, though it has significant investments from Microsoft (with a partnership worth billions) and other stakeholders.
Who owns the ChatGPT model?
OpenAI owns the underlying ChatGPT model, which is based on the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture. This model is continually improved by OpenAI, and it powers applications like ChatGPT.
Who owns ChatGPT text?
The text generated by ChatGPT is owned by OpenAI. However, the use and ownership of content may vary depending on terms and conditions outlined in user agreements, particularly for enterprise or commercial use.
How does OpenAI earn money?
OpenAI earns money through:
- Premium subscriptions (such as ChatGPT Plus)
- Enterprise offerings like ChatGPT Enterprise for businesses
- API access, allowing developers to integrate OpenAI’s models into their own applications
- Licensing agreements, particularly with Microsoft, which licenses OpenAI’s technology for integration into their products and services.
How much did ChatGPT cost to make?
The exact cost of creating ChatGPT is not publicly disclosed. However, it is known that building and training large-scale language models like GPT-3 and GPT-4 involves substantial costs, likely in the range of tens of millions of dollars. This includes costs for data acquisition, compute resources, and expert talent.
Does ChatGPT sell data?
No, ChatGPT does not sell personal user data. OpenAI has committed to ethical use of data, and the information shared by users is handled according to its privacy policy. While OpenAI may use data to improve its models, it does not sell this data to third parties.
Does ChatGPT cost money?
While ChatGPT is free to use with limited features, users can upgrade to ChatGPT Plus, a paid subscription service that offers additional benefits like access to GPT-4, faster response times, and priority access during high traffic.
Did Elon Musk buy OpenAI?
No, Elon Musk did not buy OpenAI. He was one of the co-founders of OpenAI but stepped down from its board in 2018. Musk is not currently involved in the day-to-day operations or ownership of OpenAI.
What does ChatGPT stand for?
ChatGPT stands for “Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer”. It is a language model developed by OpenAI that uses deep learning techniques to generate human-like text responses based on the input it receives.
Which country made ChatGPT?
ChatGPT was developed by OpenAI, which is based in the United States. OpenAI was founded in 2015 by a group of entrepreneurs and researchers, including Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and others.
Does ChatGPT use water?
No, ChatGPT does not use water. However, data centers that run the AI models require energy to operate, and some of them may use water for cooling purposes. This is a part of the infrastructure that supports AI computations, but ChatGPT itself does not directly use water.
Who is the CEO of OpenAI?
The CEO of OpenAI is Sam Altman. He was one of the co-founders of OpenAI and became its CEO in 2019. He has been instrumental in guiding the company through various phases of development and commercialization.
What is the ChatGPT owner net worth?
The net worth of OpenAI is difficult to pinpoint precisely, but it is estimated to be worth around $157 billion as of 2024, driven by the rapid growth of ChatGPT and other AI products. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has a personal net worth of around $500 million to $1 billion, though this may increase as OpenAI continues to grow.
Is ChatGPT owned by Google?
No, ChatGPT is not owned by Google. It was developed by OpenAI, an independent AI research organization. However, Google has its own AI models, such as Bard and Google Assistant, which are competitors to ChatGPT in the AI conversational space.