Skip to content
OpenAI Increases Bug Bounty Rewards to $172,000

OpenAI Increases Bug Bounty Rewards to $172,000

First seen 3 Nov 2026, 07:13 UTC • •
API

Article Content

Browse articles
ThreatCluster AI
ThreatCluster •November 3, 2026 at 18:16 UTC
  • •OpenAI's bug bounty rewards now reach up to $172,000 with bonuses.
  • •Base rewards for critical vulnerabilities have increased to $30,000.
  • •A new five-tier loyalty program incentivizes repeat researchers.

OpenAI has significantly increased its bug bounty rewards, offering up to $172,000 for exceptional critical findings. The new payout structure includes base rewards of up to $30,000 for critical vulnerabilities in core products like ChatGPT and Codex, with additional bonuses for high-quality reports and loyalty. The company aims to encourage independent researchers to identify vulnerabilities that may have been overlooked. The updated program also introduces a five-tier loyalty system and short-term campaigns with dedicated bonus pools for testing new features. This overhaul comes as OpenAI seeks to enhance its security posture and foster collaboration with the research community. Reports indicate that this move aligns OpenAI's rewards with those of major players like Google, though it remains below the top-tier payouts offered by Apple and Microsoft.

Start a free Starter trial for enhanced analysis

Ask AI about this cluster

Updated just now How this analysis works

Timeline

2026-11-03
OpenAI announces increased bug bounty rewards
OpenAI quadruples bug bounty payouts and introduces new incentives for quality reports and loyalty bonuses.
Openai
2026-11-03
OpenAI details new bug bounty structure
The updated program includes bonuses for high-quality reports and a five-tier loyalty system.
Helpnetsecurity
2026-11-03
OpenAI announces retroactive payout adjustments
Researchers who submitted reports in the last 30 days will receive the difference under the new reward ranges.
The-Decoder

More articles in this cluster (5)

Following this threat?

Track OpenAI in your own feed — you're alerted when they show up in new reporting, leak sites or exploitation.

Free account · no card needed

Extracted Entities (5)

1 / 2

Common questions

What is the maximum bounty for critical vulnerabilities?
The maximum bounty for critical vulnerabilities can reach up to $172,000 when including bonuses.
How does the new loyalty program work?
The loyalty program is a five-tier system that provides scaling bonuses for researchers who consistently report vulnerabilities.
Will previous submissions be adjusted to the new payout rates?
Yes, OpenAI will apply the new reward ranges retroactively to reports submitted in the last 30 days.