OpenAI and Microsoft reportedly share 20% of revenue

Leaked documents obtained by tech blogger Ed Zitron reveal OpenAI’s financial reality, showing that Microsoft and the ChatGPT maker share 20% of the revenue, although neither company has confirmed the arrangement.

Microsoft has invested over $13 billion in OpenAI.

The files reportedly show that Microsoft received $493.8 million from OpenAI last year and that jumped to $865.8 million in the first three quarters of this year. Microsoft also gives OpenAI revenue from its Bing and Azure OpenAI Service.

Based on these figures, OpenAI’s revenue was at least $2.5 billion in 2024 and $4.33 billion in early 2025, according to TechCrunch.

The leaks also suggest OpenAI may be spending more to run its models than it earns. Inference costs—the computer needed to generate AI responses—totaled an estimated $3.8 billion in 2024 and $8.65 billion in the first nine months of 2025.

The numbers fuel concerns that even the leading AI company may still be deep in the red, and what it means for other artificial intelligence startups with massive valuations.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently stated that revenue is already “well more” than $13 billion per year and could potentially reach $100 billion by 2027.