Buying OpenAI stock: What investors can expect from the IPO and how to invest today

Updated on June 16, 2026

You might use ChatGPT daily for writing, researching, coding, or planning. Even so, you cannot buy OpenAI stock—at least not yet. The honest answer first: As of June 2026, OpenAI is a private company, and there is no publicly tradable OpenAI stock. However, the IPO is drawing closer, and there is already a regulated way to invest in OpenAI indirectly today.

Can you already buy OpenAI stock?

No, you cannot currently buy OpenAI stock on the stock exchange. As of June 2026, OpenAI is a private company, which is why there is no publicly tradable stock, no stock market price, and no ticker symbol or ISIN for retail investors to add OpenAI directly to their portfolio.

This is the most important point if you are looking for a price, a ticker symbol, or a way to add OpenAI directly to your portfolio: A publicly traded OpenAI security does not currently exist. If you see a supposed OpenAI price somewhere, it is very likely referring to estimates, secondary market prices, or news regarding the company's valuation, but not an official stock price on an exchange.

Nevertheless, the search is understandable. OpenAI is one of the companies currently most strongly associated with the AI boom. ChatGPT has made artificial intelligence truly usable for many people for the first time, which is exactly why many investors are wondering if they can get involved before a potential IPO.

The short answer: not directly via an individual stock yet. Indirectly, there is a regulated path, which will be explained in more detail later in this article.

When will OpenAI go public? Status of the IPO

As of June 16, 2026, an official date for the OpenAI IPO has not yet been set. However, it is known that OpenAI confidentially filed for an IPO with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on June 8, 2026. According to reports from Reuters and Bloomberg, the process is being managed by Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.

Filing confidentially means a company begins the formal IPO process without immediately making all documents public. This is not unusual for large IPOs. For you, this means the process is in motion, but it does not yet result in a guaranteed date, a guaranteed valuation, or the ability to buy the stock on an exchange today.

A market debut in the fall of 2026 is cited as the earliest target timeframe. At the same time, 2027 has also been mentioned internally as a possible target. The timing remains officially unconfirmed, which is exactly why any specific date forecast would be unreliable.

The OpenAI IPO is also part of a larger market window. Anthropic and SpaceX are also preparing listings. According to reports, OpenAI wants to go public before Anthropic if possible. This shows how intense the competition for attention, capital, and valuation is in the AI and technology sector right now.

If you are interested in pre-IPO companies, the article on SpaceX stock before the IPO may also be relevant. The search logic is similar: many people want to buy a well-known private company, but the process works differently than with standard publicly traded stocks.

How much is OpenAI worth? Valuation and revenue

As of June 2026, OpenAI was valued at approximately $852 billion. This valuation is based on a $122 billion funding round completed in the first quarter of 2026.

According to Reuters, a target valuation of up to $1 trillion is being cited for a potential IPO. This is a target figure, not a fixed value. Some reports mention even higher ranges, but for a clear perspective, it is important to note: such figures are market expectations and not a guaranteed IPO valuation.

Valuation for private companies is interpreted differently than for publicly traded stocks. On the stock market, a price is visible daily through supply and demand. For private companies, valuation is usually determined through funding rounds, discussions with investors, secondary market transactions, or planned IPO scenarios. This is why such values can change quickly, especially in a market where AI companies must meet very high expectations.

Regarding revenue, we intentionally keep it qualitative: OpenAI stands for strong growth, but also for high investments in areas like computing power, product development, and infrastructure. It is precisely this mix that makes the company interesting to many investors while simultaneously making it challenging to value.

In addition, there is an important structural step: in 2025 and 2026, OpenAI transitioned to a public benefit corporation with a for-profit structure. This structure is considered a prerequisite for an IPO. It shows that OpenAI has moved organizationally closer to a potential listing.

The point is: a high valuation can be a sign of great confidence, but it also raises expectations. Those who invest before the IPO are participating in a story with significant potential and correspondingly high risks.

Is there a ChatGPT stock?

No, there is no ChatGPT stock. ChatGPT is the product; OpenAI is the company behind it.

The confusion is understandable because many people know ChatGPT first and OpenAI only later. On the stock market, however, it would not be the individual product ChatGPT that is listed, but the company OpenAI, should the IPO actually take place. Therefore, anyone searching for a ChatGPT stock or a ChatGPT IPO ends up at the same core question: can you invest in OpenAI?

Currently, the same applies here: there is no direct stock yet. Anyone looking for exposure to OpenAI before the IPO needs a different approach than the classic stock purchase via the exchange.

Investing in OpenAI before the IPO

You cannot currently buy OpenAI as an individual stock. However, there is a regulated way to invest indirectly in OpenAI as a private company: via the ARK Private Innovation ELTIF, which is accessible through NAO.

The fund holds stakes in private innovation companies, including OpenAI, SpaceX, and Databricks. The OpenAI share in the fund is currently around 26.5 percent. This does not give you an individual OpenAI stock, but rather a stake in a fund portfolio where OpenAI is a key position.

Access via NAO is possible starting from 1 euro, including via savings plans. You can find more information on access on the page for ARK via NAO.

This is particularly relevant because retail investors are traditionally often very late to the game with private companies. Large funding rounds before an IPO are usually reserved for institutional investors. An ELTIF can build a bridge here because it makes private markets accessible to retail investors within a regulated fund structure.

Nevertheless, the distinction remains important: you are not investing directly in an OpenAI stock. You are investing in a fund that, among other things, holds a stake in OpenAI. The performance therefore does not depend solely on OpenAI, but on the entire portfolio, the valuations of private companies, liquidity, and the terms of the fund.

What is an ELTIF and how does it differ from an ETF?

An ELTIF is a European fund structure that can provide retail investors with access to private markets. Private markets consist of investments that are not traded daily on a stock exchange, such as stakes in private companies.

In contrast, an ETF typically tracks a stock market index and can generally be bought or sold on any trading day. An ELTIF works differently: it is designed for the long term, invests in less liquid assets, and redemptions are only possible at specific times, depending on the fund.

Simply put: an ETF is closer to daily stock market activity, while an ELTIF is closer to private company investments. This is precisely why their opportunities, risks, and liquidity differ significantly. You can also find an overview of private markets and the various asset classes in the NAO Private Equity Overview.

Opportunities and risks at a glance

OpenAI is one of the companies everyone is talking about right now. But you only get a clear picture when you weigh the opportunities against the risks.

Opportunities:

• Access before the IPO: Through the ARK Private Innovation ELTIF, you can gain indirect exposure to OpenAI before any potential stock becomes freely tradable on the public market.
• AI exposure: OpenAI is at the heart of a market that is transforming many industries, from writing to software development.
• Fund instead of a single bet: The ELTIF holds several private innovation companies, including OpenAI, SpaceX, and Databricks.
• Low entry barrier: With NAO, you can start investing from as little as 1 euro, including via a savings plan.

Risks:

• No direct stock ownership: You are not buying an OpenAI share, but rather investing in a fund that holds a stake in OpenAI.
• Limited liquidity: ELTIFs are designed for the long term. Redemptions are generally possible on a quarterly basis and may be subject to limitations.
• Valuation risk: OpenAI’s valuation is very high. If expectations are not met, this could put pressure on the valuation.
• IPO timing uncertain: There is no official date for the IPO. The earliest mentioned timeframe is autumn 2026, with 2027 also being discussed internally.
• Risk of total loss: Private market investments involve risks. Capital losses, up to and including a total loss, are possible.

This is not investment advice, but rather an analysis. You can find the fund documents and the KID for the ARK Private Innovation ELTIF in the NAO app. Please read them carefully before making an investment decision, especially the information regarding risks, costs, redemptions, and the investment term.

Conclusion: Is it worth getting in before the IPO?

The IPO is the final showcase. You can start your investment before that.

That is exactly what makes OpenAI unique: if you wait for the publicly traded stock, you have to wait until the IPO, and as of now, you know neither the date nor the issue price. If you want to invest beforehand, you need regulated access to private company shares, and that is exactly where the ARK Private Innovation ELTIF comes in.

Nevertheless, it remains a deliberate decision. OpenAI is highly valued, the IPO timing is uncertain, and an ELTIF is more long-term and less liquid than a publicly traded stock. At the same time, it provides you with access that was previously reserved primarily for institutional investors, embedded within a fund portfolio containing several private innovation companies.

If you would like to check whether this access fits your investment horizon and risk profile, you can find the details for the ARK Private Innovation ELTIF in the NAO app. The complete fund documents and the KID are also available there.

FAQ

Can I currently buy OpenAI stock?

No, you cannot currently buy OpenAI stock on the stock exchange. As of June 2026, OpenAI is a private company, which is why there is no publicly traded stock available for retail investors.

When is the OpenAI IPO planned?

There is no official date yet. OpenAI confidentially filed for an IPO with the SEC on June 8, 2026; the earliest timeframe mentioned is autumn 2026, though 2027 has also been mentioned internally.

What is OpenAI’s valuation?

As of June 2026, OpenAI was valued at approximately 852 billion US dollars. According to Reuters, a target valuation of up to 1 trillion US dollars is being discussed for the IPO, but this is a target figure and not a fixed valuation.

Is there a WKN or ISIN for OpenAI?

No, there is currently no WKN or ISIN for an OpenAI stock. These identification numbers are only issued once a security is officially structured and listed for trading.

What is the difference between a ChatGPT stock and OpenAI?

ChatGPT is a product of OpenAI; there is no such thing as a ChatGPT stock. If OpenAI goes public, it would involve shares in the company OpenAI, not a single product.

How can I invest in OpenAI before the IPO?

You can invest in OpenAI indirectly before the IPO via the ARK Private Innovation ELTIF. The fund holds private innovation companies such as OpenAI, SpaceX, and Databricks and is accessible via NAO.

What is the minimum investment amount via NAO?

You can start investing via NAO from as little as 1 euro, including through a savings plan. You can find details on the fund, risks, costs, and redemption options in the fund documents and the KID in the NAO app.