OpenAI / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
OpenAI hunts for more capital as the AI funding rush accelerates
Six months after a record $122 billion round, the ChatGPT maker is back with investors and a much bigger price tag in mind
OpenAI is out raising money again. Bloomberg reports the company is seeking a billion dollars as the race to fund artificial intelligence picks up speed.
If that sounds like déjà vu, it should. The company closed one of the largest private financings in history barely six months ago, and it apparently has room on the cap table for more.
What OpenAI is asking for
Bloomberg puts the figure at a billion dollars. Separate reporting compiled as of September 29, 2026 describes a far larger ambition: OpenAI is targeting at least $30 billion in new funding.
That round would reportedly value the company at approximately $1.4 trillion before the new money comes in.
On March 31, 2026, OpenAI wrapped up a $122 billion round that landed at an $852 billion post-money valuation. That March raise blew past its original $110 billion target.
Who is writing the checks
The March round was anchored by some of the biggest names in tech and finance. Amazon, Nvidia, and SoftBank were among the heavy hitters driving the raise.
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Amazon’s piece came with strings. The company committed $50 billion, but $35 billion of that is contingent on milestones such as an IPO or OpenAI achieving artificial general intelligence.
The round also broke new ground on access. Individual investors were allowed in through banks, and that group contributed more than $3 billion.
The IPO that isn’t happening yet
For anyone hoping to simply buy OpenAI shares on an exchange, the wait continues. CEO Sam Altman has said the company is pushing its IPO plans out until at least 2027.
The stated reason is AI safety. According to Altman, the company is prioritizing those concerns ahead of a public listing.
It also complicates Amazon’s arrangement. With an IPO named as one of the milestones tied to its contingent $35 billion, a delayed listing could mean a delayed payout of that capital.
Revenue is big, and so is the spending
OpenAI is reported to bring in roughly $2 billion in revenue every month. The company continues to spend aggressively on technology and talent, running a deliberate cash burn strategy to stay ahead of rivals.