OpenAI lifts equity restrictions, with employees receiving an average annual incentive of over $1 million, and annual compensation expenses increasing by $3 billion

OpenAI is significantly enhancing its employee compensation competitiveness. According to the latest financial report, the average stock incentives per employee have reached $1.5 million, far surpassing similar companies in Silicon Valley—related analyses indicate that OpenAI’s compensation standards are 34 times higher than those of 18 other tech startups.

Most notably, OpenAI recently announced the removal of a key restriction: employees no longer need to wait six months to receive equity grants. This policy adjustment could further drive up overall compensation costs, reflecting the company’s strong desire for top talent.

From a financial forecast perspective, OpenAI’s equity incentive expenses are expected to grow rapidly, with an estimated annual increase of about $3 billion before 2030. This investment will significantly compress the company’s profit margins. 2025 data shows that OpenAI’s employee costs will account for 46% of revenue, second only to electric vehicle company Rivian, well above the industry average—Palantir at 33%, Google at 15%, and Facebook at just 6%.

This high-salary strategy reflects the current talent competition in the AI field. By directly tying employee interests to stock incentives, OpenAI aims to retain its core team amid fierce competition. However, the rapidly increasing compensation costs also pose new challenges to the company’s business model.