The Unlikely Billionaires of AI: A Tale of Silicon Valley's Latest Obsession The recent financing round at OpenAI has left hundreds of its employees overnight millionaires, with some selling shares worth up to $30 million each.
Mark Zuckerberg's Meta plays a significant role in this equation, as the CEO's efforts to poach AI talent have set off a chain reaction pushing companies like OpenAI to increase compensation packages and benefits.
The scale of payouts at OpenAI is staggering, with over 600 current and former employees cashing out shares worth $6. 6 billion in October 2025.