SoftBank has completed its $40 billion investment commitment to OpenAI, sources told CNBC, with the Japanese conglomerate transferring a final $22–22.5 billion last week. Earlier, SoftBank had invested $8 billion directly in OpenAI and syndicated an additional $10 billion with co-investors, bringing its total stake in the company to over 10%.
The funding was initially reported in February at a $260 billion pre-money valuation and was scheduled to be distributed over a 12-to-24-month period. Some of the capital is earmarked for OpenAI’s Stargate joint venture with Oracle and SoftBank, aimed at expanding AI infrastructure to meet growing compute demands.
Supporting AI Infrastructure and Partnerships
OpenAI has committed more than $1.4 trillion in infrastructure investments over the coming years, including agreements with chipmakers Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, and Broadcom. These commitments reflect the company’s effort to scale capacity for AI solutions, particularly as demand for generative AI continues to surge.
SoftBank has been an active investor in AI and technology companies for years, previously backing Nvidia and most recently agreeing to acquire DigitalBridge for $4 billion to strengthen its AI initiatives. In parallel, the conglomerate liquidated its $5.8 billion stake in Nvidia, freeing capital to support its OpenAI investment.
Growing Strategic and Corporate Backing
Ahead of a potential IPO, OpenAI has also received substantial backing from major tech players. Microsoft has been a longstanding investor and strategic partner, while Amazon is reportedly considering a potential investment exceeding $10 billion. Entertainment giant Disney recently invested $1 billion, giving users of OpenAI’s video generator Sora access to licensed content such as Mickey Mouse.
The completed SoftBank funding strengthens OpenAI’s position as it explores a potential initial public offering and continues to expand AI infrastructure, product offerings, and partnerships globally.
