Archive · 16 Sep 2026
OpenAI Discusses $1.2 Trillion Funding Round Ahead of IPO
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, may raise more money from investors.
The deal could value the company at about $1.2 trillion or more.
The talks are only beginning, so the final amount could change or the deal might not happen.
Investors reportedly approached OpenAI about the funding.
OpenAI was valued at $852 billion after raising $122 billion in March.
The company spends a lot of money building AI systems, computers and data centers.
New private funding could help it grow without immediately selling shares on the stock market.
Sam Altman has said OpenAI will not have an IPO in 2026, and 2027 is being considered as a possible later date.
OpenAI is in preliminary talks with investors about a funding round valuing it at around or above $1.2 trillion.
The discussions were reportedly initiated by investors, and the valuation, funding size and closing date remain unconfirmed.
OpenAI’s March funding round raised $122 billion in committed capital and valued the company at about $852 billion.
New funding could support AI development, computing capacity, data centers, infrastructure, acquisitions and expansion.
CEO Sam Altman has ruled out an IPO in 2026, while 2027 has emerged as a possible timeline.
- Who
- OpenAI, potential investors, CEO Sam Altman and competing AI company Anthropic.
- What
- OpenAI is discussing a possible private funding round at a valuation of around or above $1.2 trillion.
- When
- The discussions were reported in the latest reports after OpenAI’s March funding round; Altman has ruled out an IPO in 2026, with 2027 emerging as a possible timeline.
- Why
- The funding could help pay for AI development, computing capacity, data centers, infrastructure, acquisitions and expansion.
Private Funding Benefits
IPO and Valuation Concerns
How OpenAI should raise capital
Private Funding Benefits
A private funding round could provide substantial money for AI development, infrastructure and possible acquisitions while allowing OpenAI to remain outside public markets.
IPO and Valuation Concerns
Delaying an IPO postpones public-market access, while the reported valuation is preliminary and could change or fail to produce a completed transaction.
Timing of a public listing
Private Funding Benefits
Additional private capital could give OpenAI flexibility to delay an IPO while continuing its expansion.
IPO and Valuation Concerns
Altman has ruled out an IPO in 2026, citing AI-safety concerns, and reports also describe regulatory and legal limits on information shared with private investors before an IPO.
- Potential valuation
- Around or above $1.2 trillion
- Previous valuation
- About $852 billion after the March funding round
- March capital raised
- $122 billion in committed capital
- Talk status
- Early-stage discussions; no confirmed funding size or closing date
- Investor approach
- Reports said investors approached OpenAI
- IPO timing
- No IPO in 2026; 2027 has emerged as a possible timeline
- Reported spending
- About $34 billion last year, according to the Financial Times
- Reported annualized revenue
- More than $40 billion in the latest report
