Amazon and SoftBank lead $100 billion OpenAI funding round as tech giants bet big on ChatGPT maker
16 Sources
[1]
SoftBank in talks to invest up to $30 billion more in OpenAI, source says
Jan 27 (Reuters) - SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T), opens new tab is in talks to invest as much as an additional $30 billion in OpenAI, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, as the Japanese conglomerate doubles down on its bet on the ChatGPT owner. The fresh investment would form part of
[2]
Amazon could invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI in coming weeks, source says
Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon, speaking with CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 20th, 2026. Amazon is in talks to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI, CNBC confirmed on Thursday, in a significant vote of confidence from the e-commerce giant after it invested in one of the
[3]
Amazon bets on OpenAI even as Wall Street cools to the ChatGPT maker
Why it matters: The potential deal comes as Wall Street has been shunning the stocks of companies that have already partnered with OpenAI (see Microsoft's decline on Thursday) as investors worry whether the AI upstart behind ChatGPT will ultimately be able to pay off all its backers. Zoom out:
[4]
Tech Giants Circle OpenAI in Funding Round That Could Top $100 Billion - Decrypt
The discussions come as OpenAI prepares for a potential fourth-quarter initial public offering. OpenAI's largest suppliers may soon become its biggest backers. Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia are in talks to invest in the ChatGPT developer as it prepares for a potential fourth-quarter IPO, according
[5]
Amazon in talks to invest $50 billion in OpenAI's new funding round
Amazon is reportedly in advanced negotiations to invest at least $50 billion in OpenAI, a move that would account for half of the AI company's targeted $100 billion funding round. According to The Wall Street Journal, talks are being led directly by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
[6]
Amazon in talks to invest billions in OpenAI, source says - The Economic Times
Big Tech companies are racing to forge partnerships with OpenAI, betting that closer ties with the artificial-intelligence startup would give them a competitive edge in the AI race.Amazon is in talks to invest dozens of billions in OpenAI and the figure could be as high as $50 billion, a source
[7]
OpenAI In Talks To Raise Billions From Nvidia, Amazon, Microsoft: Report - Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)
OpenAI Inc. is reportedly in discussions to secure funding of nearly $40 billion from its major suppliers, NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT). NVIDIA could potentially invest up to $20 billion in OpenAI, while Amazon is considering an
[8]
SoftBank in talks to invest $30 billion more in OpenAI, report says
SoftBank Group is in discussions to invest as much as $30 billion more in OpenAI, a sharp increase in commitment that reflects founder Masayoshi Son's ambitions to play a central role in developing artificial intelligence. The Japanese company, already one of the ChatGPT-maker's biggest backers,
[9]
OpenAI Courts Tech Giants for $100 Billion Funding Round | PYMNTS.com
By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. The three tech giants are also in talks to join the artificial intelligence
[10]
SoftBank In Talks To Invest $30 Billion More In OpenAI: Report - NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), SoftBank Group (OTC:SFTBY)
SoftBank Group (OTC:SFTBY) is in talks to invest up to $30 billion more in OpenAI, as the ChatGPT maker seeks up to $100 billion in new capital, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. SoftBank and OpenAI did not immediately respond to Benzinga's
[11]
SoftBank Considers Adding $30 Billion to Investment in OpenAI | PYMNTS.com
This investment would be in addition to the $22.5 billion investment SoftBank made in OpenAI in December 2025, which increased its stake in the artificial intelligence (AI) startup to 11%, according to the report. SoftBank's investment would be part of a funding round in which OpenAI aims to raise
[12]
Amazon could invest up to $50B in OpenAI: report
Amazon is reportedly in talks to invest as much as $50 billion into Sam Altman's OpenAI -- in what would be a massive bet on the ChatGPT creator. Amazon boss Andy Jassy is leading negotiations with Altman, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The sources said
[13]
NVIDIA, Microsoft, Amazon Consider Up to $60B OpenAI Investment Talks
The talks could lift OpenAI's valuation to about $730 billion, based on figures cited by the same people. However, no signed term sheets or finalized commitments are public. People familiar with the talks say Nvidia is considering investing up to $30 billion in OpenAI. already backs OpenAI, and
[14]
SoftBank considers additional $30 bln investment in OpenAI - WSJ By Investing.com
Investing.com-- SoftBank Group (TYO:9984) is in talks to invest up to $30 billion more in OpenAI, deepening its exposure to the artificial intelligence company, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The discussions are ongoing, and terms could still
[15]
Amazon considers investing up to $50bn in OpenAI to bolster its AI strategy
Amazon is said to be in advanced talks to invest up to $50bn in OpenAI, according to multiple sources. The project, led directly by CEOs Andy Jassy and Sam Altman, would be part of a $100bn funding round aimed at supporting the artificial intelligence company's expansion. The fundraising could be
[16]
Amazon in talks to invest up to $50 bn in OpenAI after cutting thousands of jobs
This would strengthen the companies' existing relationship. Amazon is reportedly in discussions to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT. If the deal goes through, it would be one of the largest bets yet on the fast-growing AI startup. Amazon CEO
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Amazon is negotiating a $50 billion investment in OpenAI as part of a massive $100 billion funding round that could value the AI company at $830 billion. SoftBank is also in talks to invest up to $30 billion more, while Microsoft and Nvidia consider joining. The capital raise comes as OpenAI faces mounting costs and investor concerns about its ability to deliver returns on its $1.4 trillion in spending commitments.
Tech giants compete to back OpenAI in record-breaking funding round
OpenAI is preparing to raise capital in what could become one of the largest funding rounds in corporate history. Amazon is in talks to invest up to $50 billion in the ChatGPT maker, while SoftBank Group Corp is negotiating an additional $30 billion investment, according to sources familiar with the matter
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. The funding round could reach $100 billion in total, potentially valuing OpenAI at approximately $830 billion and cementing its position as one of the most valuable private companies globally5
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Source: New York Post
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have been engaging in discussions directly, with a term sheet potentially being signed in the coming weeks
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. The deal details remain fluid, but the investment from tech giants could include agreements for OpenAI to purchase Amazon's AI chips and computing services, creating a circular dealmaking structure that has raised eyebrows among some investors3
.SoftBank doubles down as Masayoshi Son makes all-in AI bet
SoftBank's potential $30 billion investment would represent a significant escalation of its commitment to OpenAI. Chief Executive Masayoshi Son has made an "all-in" bet on artificial intelligence, and in December, SoftBank completed a $1 billion investment in OpenAI, securing an 11% stake in the company
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. To marshal funds for the previous investment, Son reportedly slowed most other dealmaking at SoftBank's Vision Fund to a crawl, demonstrating the Japanese conglomerate's prioritization of AI investment over other opportunities.
Source: Japan Times
Both OpenAI and SoftBank are also investors in the Stargate initiative, a $500 billion project to build AI data centers for training and inference that executives say is crucial to maintaining U.S. competitiveness against China in artificial intelligence
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.Microsoft and Nvidia join the race as OpenAI valuation soars
Microsoft and Nvidia are also considering investments that could collectively reach $60 billion when combined with Amazon's potential contribution
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. Microsoft already holds a $13 billion stake in OpenAI and has been its primary cloud computing partner, while Nvidia has supplied the specialized chips that power OpenAI's AI models. OpenAI is also reportedly filling out the funding round through discussions with sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East, with the deal expected to close by the end of the first quarter5
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Source: PYMNTS
The OpenAI valuation has skyrocketed from $500 billion in October 2025 after a secondary share sale to a potential $830 billion in this new round
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. This explosive growth reflects the company's expanding influence in the AI sector, with its annualized revenue surpassing $20 billion in 2025, up from $6 billion in 20243
.Rising costs of training and operating AI models drive capital needs
OpenAI is grappling with the escalating costs of training and operating AI models as competition from Alphabet's Google intensifies
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. The company has signaled plans to spend hundreds of billions of dollars over time on computing infrastructure, including data centers and specialized chips4
. However, OpenAI faces $1.4 trillion in spending commitments, creating a vast mismatch with its current revenue that has become a source of investor concerns3
.Analysts suggest that unless its financial situation changes, OpenAI could run out of money by 2027, making this funding round critical to the company's survival and growth
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. The fundraising push is unfolding as OpenAI prepares for a potential Initial Public Offering in the fourth quarter of 2026, which could help address investor concerns about how it plans to finance its infrastructure ambitions4
.Related Stories
Wall Street skepticism grows despite OpenAI's dominance
While OpenAI has no trouble raising cash and is still seen as a winner in the AI race, Wall Street has been cooling to companies that have partnered with the ChatGPT maker. Microsoft's stock tanked 10% following its recent earnings report, despite announcing a $620 billion backlog in upcoming revenue, with nearly half expected to come from OpenAI
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. Investors remain skeptical about whether OpenAI will ultimately be able to pay off all its backers.Daniel Newman, tech analyst and CEO of the Futurum Group, told Axios that OpenAI "was the halo around the heads of all these companies" whose stocks have taken a hit and now it "will become the noose around their neck"
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. The circular nature of the dealmaking—where investment from tech giants like Amazon could include agreements for OpenAI to buy Amazon's AI chips—has raised additional questions about the sustainability of these arrangements.Amazon's strategic pivot raises questions about Anthropic relationship
Amazon's potential $50 billion investment in OpenAI strikes a surprising tone given the company's deep existing commitment to Anthropic, a rival AI developer. Amazon has already invested over $8 billion in Anthropic and serves as its primary cloud provider, recently launching an $11 billion data center campus in Indiana dedicated exclusively to Anthropic's models
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. The company invested $4 billion in Anthropic in 2024 alone4
.The potential deal would deepen Amazon's relationship with OpenAI beyond cloud services. In November, OpenAI agreed to purchase $38 billion in computing services from Amazon Web Services over multiple years, even as it continued its relationship with Microsoft
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. This move comes as Amazon retrenches in other areas, planning to lay off 30,000 people and closing AmazonFresh and AmazonGo, effectively sunsetting its physical retail presence3
. Amazon appears to be casting out fishing lines to future-proof its business by betting on multiple AI players simultaneously.References
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