CNN on Sept. 28 said the initial public offering of Big Hit Entertainment, the agency that manages the K-pop sensation BTS, has made each of the group's seven members millionaires. (Screen capture from CNN's website)

By Kim Young Deok and Lee Jihae

The initial public offering (IPO) of Big Hit Entertainment, the agency that manages K-pop sensation BTS, has made each of the boy band's seven members multimillionaires, CNN said on Sept. 28.

The U.S.-based news network said Big Hit's shares were issued at KRW 135,000 each for a combined value of KRW 4.8 trillion.

Big Hit CEO Bang Si-Hyuk, who owns 43% of the company's shares, on Aug. 3 gave each member about 68,000 shares.

Based on the IPO price, the value of each member's shares is KRW 9.23 billion (USD 7.88 million).

CNN said the "breakout success (of BTS) has been compared with that of the Beatles," adding that "the band's success has helped Big Hit carve out a lucrative empire."

The group's hit "Dynamite" on Sept. 28 also returned to the top spot on Billboard's main chart, Hot 100.

The hit debuted at No. 1 and stayed there for a second consecutive week, then fell to No. 2 for two weeks. It regained the top spot in its fifth week.

The U.S.-based media company Variety on Sept. 28 said BTS' seven members "have taken the world by storm, drawing comparisons with the Beatles," adding that the group is "certainly riding high."