The U.S. government just made the most profitable semiconductor investment in history. In August 2025, the U.S. government invested $8.9 billion in INTC through CHIPS Act funding and defense project funds, acquiring a 9.9% stake. Buy-in price: $20.47/share Shares acquired: 433.3 million shares Current share price: $131 Current portfolio value: $56.76 billion Paper profit: $47.86 billion Return on investment: +538% A lot of people think the U.S. is subsidizing Intel. In reality, the U.S. has directly become a major shareholder of Intel. If Intel successfully returns to advanced process nodes and AI chip competition, the U.S. will not only gain domestic manufacturing capabilities but could also reap tens of billions in investment returns. This might mark a major shift in U.S. industrial policy: Previously, it was about subsidizing companies. Now, it’s directly holding equity like a venture capital fund. When the U.S. starts investing in strategic industries like a VC, the rules of the game have changed.