OpenAI is picking up the pace: revenue reaches $40 billion amid personnel changes
OpenAI is demonstrating impressive momentum: the company's annual revenue run rate has reached $40 billion. This figure has doubled compared to the end of 2025, underscoring the rapid scaling of the business ahead of its initial public offering (IPO). However, such optimistic numbers are accompanied by a series of high-profile departures of key executives, adding uncertainty on the eve of going public.
What is driving OpenAI's revenue growth
The main drivers of this growth are three areas: an increase in the number of ChatGPT subscribers, significant progress in sales of developer software, and the start of monetizing the advertising business. Company President Greg Brockman told employees that revenue in July grew by more than 20% compared to June. Notably, the July figure was higher than the entire second quarter, indicating explosive acceleration.
The new pricing policy also played a role. In July, OpenAI lowered the cost of some services, attracting new corporate clients. Contrary to expectations, there was no decline in revenue — on the contrary, demand compensated for the price reductions. AI agents provided additional momentum: Codex for programmers and ChatGPT Work for office teams. These products are encouraging clients to switch to more expensive plans, increasing the average transaction value.
Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar previously forecast that revenue would exceed $20 billion by the end of 2025. Now management is setting a goal to bring the share of corporate clients to 50% of total revenue by the end of the current year. Notably, OpenAI is not commenting on the new figures, but they are already recorded in the financial statements.
Personnel changes and IPO preparation
In the coming weeks, Chief Revenue Officer Denise Dresser will leave the company; she joined OpenAI from Slack in December 2025 and worked for only about eight months. Her responsibilities will be transferred to Dali Rajic, who previously headed the cybersecurity company Wiz. Dresser's departure continues a trend: earlier, Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap and Fiiji Simo left the company for health reasons.
Over the past few months, OpenAI has also lost the head of the ethics department, the head of the security division, and a former director of strategic development. Greg Brockman has taken on part of the management functions, trying to stabilize the organization. IPO preparation is in full swing: the company has filed for a confidential listing and recently bought back employee shares for $7 billion from its own funds.
Expert view: OpenAI's revenue growth is impressive, but the staff turnover ahead of the IPO is a worrying signal for investors. Competitor Anthropic, which plans to go public in October with a valuation above $2 trillion, could seize the initiative. OpenAI's valuation will depend on whether financial momentum outweighs the reputational risks associated with the loss of key managers. In the long term, team stability will become no less important a factor than revenue.