Have you ever wondered who owns OpenAI? You wouldn't be the first to ask that question, but it's surprisingly difficult to find an answer.
OpenAI started a widespread boom in artificial intelligence (AI) in November 2022. The release of the ChatGPT chatbot, based on a powerful large language model (LLM), set new standards for what AI could do. Before ChatGPT, many saw AI as a mysterious technology trick. After some hands-on experience with ChatGPT, skepticism has evolved into a mix of wonder, fear, and enthusiasm about a computer system's ability to mimic human intelligence in many ways.
Related AI tools like the DALL-E image creation system and the Sora video generator put more wind in OpenAI's sails. One year later, OpenAI partners such as Microsoft (MSFT -0.17%) and Nvidia (NVDA +2.17%) had added billions of dollars to their market caps, largely thanks to their involvement with the ChatGPT phenomenon.
However, OpenAI is not a publicly traded company. The driving force behind the AI frenzy that started in 2022 is a very private business managed as a "capped-profit" organization.
So, who owns OpenAI? Well, it's complicated. Let's figure it out together.
OpenAI's ambitious goals in AI research
OpenAI was founded in December 2015. It was a nonprofit company at first, aiming to "advance digital intelligence in the way that is most likely to benefit humanity as a whole, unconstrained by a need to generate financial return."
The absence of financial goals, such as creating value for shareholders, allowed OpenAI to pursue its world-changing goals without distractions.
The capped-profit structure remains in 2025. The company has updated its mission statement, now aimed at "ensuring that safe artificial general intelligence is developed and benefits all of humanity." In the same breath, the company also says that it might never make a profit -- and it is "under no obligation to do so."
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How to invest in OpenAI
OpenAI is a private company with no immediate plans to sell stock on the public market. The semi-nonprofit company structure doesn't look tailor-made for supporting a public market entry; co-founder Altman often says that OpenAI will remain private under his watch.
In other words, there is no way to make a direct investment in OpenAI today, unless you're a deep-pocketed venture capitalist or technology giant with partnership plans. Accredited investors with million-dollar assets and the appropriate credentials can use services from Forge Global (FRGE +6.29%) and others to get that ball rolling.
The closest thing to an OpenAI investment for us ordinary retail investors is to buy shares of Microsoft. No one has closer ties to OpenAI than this software legend.
Chip designer Nvidia is another tech giant with exposure to OpenAI and the ChatGPT phenomenon. The company benefits when other businesses build high-powered computer systems to train and operate modern AI engines. Buying Nvidia shares gives you a nuts-and-bolts investment in one of OpenAI's most important infrastructure providers.
You can also go with an exchange-traded fund (ETF) focused on the AI space. This is far from a direct OpenAI bet but is a play on the long-term rise of AI systems and related technologies. Popular options include:
- Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF (BOTZ +1.11%)
- Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (AIQ +0.90%)
- iShares Future AI & Tech ETF (ARTY +0.39%)
- WisdomTree Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Fund (WTAI +0.59%)
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About the Author
Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Anders Bylund has positions in Amazon and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Salesforce, Shopify, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends Instacart and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
