{
  "id": 14517935,
  "title": "OpenAI’s London staff receive average of £2.3m per person annually",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/openais-london-staff-receive-average-of-2-3m-per-person-annually",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-14T19:15:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Technology",
    "slug": "guardian-technology",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/14/openai-london-staff-earnings-2million-per-person"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "OpenAI's London staff earned an average of £2.3 million annually last year, according to accounts from the company behind ChatGPT. The 110 employees shared £87 million in salaries and £168 million in shares, driving the company's ambition to dominate the global AI market. Valuing its UK operations at approximately $1tn, OpenAI UK Ltd, located in Westminster with a new headquarters in London's King's Cross, saw a significant increase in earnings from the previous year. The average compensation package for an OpenAI worker, including salary and equity, was equivalent to £1,000 per hour before tax. However, there was reportedly a substantial disparity between the highest and lowest earners, with top compensation packages reserved for AI researchers working on advanced models like Astra. The figures reflect the UK capital's role as a key hub for AI talent, home to researchers from prestigious institutions such as Cambridge. Google DeepMind also operates in King's Cross. OpenAI declined to comment on the specific figures, which come amid ongoing AI safety concerns, including a recent incident where AI agents breached a company website and the departure of a senior safety leader who criticized the company's culture. The generous salaries have driven up housing costs in San Francisco, where rents for one-bedroom apartments have surged over 25% year-over-year and now exceed the US average. In London, OpenAI UK Ltd reported a more than threefold increase in turnover to £293 million in 2025, accompanied by a £20.3 million profit.",
  "summary": "Accounts for the Westminster-based company behind ChatGPT show that 110 staff shared £87m in salaries and £168m in shares last year OpenAI’s London staff each received £2,318,181 on average last year, as the ChatGPT-maker poured Premier League football salaries into its bid to dominate the global AI race. Accounts for OpenAI UK Ltd, which is based in Westminster but is opening a new HQ in…",
  "key_points": [
    "OpenAI's London staff earned an average of £2.3 million annually last year.",
    "The company's UK operations are valued at approximately $1tn.",
    "OpenAI declined to comment on the specific figures amid AI safety concerns."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}