OpenAI CEO Sam Altman will receive up to $10.5 billion in equity in the company behind ChatGPT as part of a major restructuring plan

Altman, 39, is currently estimated to be worth $2 billion, according to Bloomberg. He has $1.2 billion invested across a range of venture capital funds branded as Hydrazine Capital, along with an additional $434 million in Apollo Projects.

Altman has denied rumors that he will get a 7% equity stake in the company that could be worth nearly $10 billion.

The OpenAI boss reportedly added that investors were pushing for him to receive equity to ensure his interests remain aligned with the firm.

OpenAI Chair Bret Taylor said on Thursday the company's board has discussed whether to compensate CEO Sam Altman with equity but no decision has been made.

John Ive, former Apple design head, is partnering with OpenAI to develop an AI-based hardware product. The collaboration could disrupt consumer electronics, drawing parallels to how Microsoft and Google expanded into hardware.

Generative artificial intelligence company OpenAI could offer chief executive Sam Altman a 7 per cent equity stake in the company and restructure to become a for-profit business, sources told Bloomberg.