On Tuesday, OpenAI announced the closing of its latest funding round, securing $122 billion and valuing the company at $852 billion post-money. This is an increase from the $110 billion announced in February, when Amazon, Nvidia, and SoftBank each committed significant amounts. The additional $12 billion comes from a wider pool of investors, including $3 billion from retail participants, a step towards an anticipated IPO in 2026.
SoftBank co-led the round with Andreessen Horowitz and D. E. Shaw Ventures, with Amazon committing the most at $50 billion, followed by Nvidia and SoftBank at $30 billion each. Microsoft, a longtime partner, also contributed but did not disclose the amount. Last year, Microsoft had invested over $13 billion in OpenAI.
The funding reflects OpenAI’s ambitious plans and the significant capital interest in AI. The company reported $2 billion in monthly revenue, a major increase from 2025’s $13.1 billion yearly earnings. ChatGPT has over 900 million weekly active users, with 50 million subscribers. Despite these numbers, OpenAI isn’t yet profitable, raising pressure on CEO Sam Altman to justify its high valuation. Recently, OpenAI shut down Sora due to low engagement and a failed deal with Disney, highlighting internal reassessment of generative AI’s commercial viability. CFO Sarah Friar indicated a 2026 focus on “practical adoption” over experimental projects.
Opening the funding round to individual investors expands OpenAI’s shareholder base before a potential IPO, and the company will be included in ARK Invest’s exchange-traded funds. Although retail investors contributed $3 billion, major capital remains with corporate and institutional backers like Amazon, Nvidia, and SoftBank, whose investments signal broader strategic interests in AI.
OpenAI compared the investment to building foundational technology layers, emphasizing the infrastructure being established. As OpenAI moves forward, it must demonstrate that its growth justifies its staggering valuation, as it transitions from startup to a major player judged by deliverables rather than potential.