OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has raised $8.3 billion in funding, achieving a staggering $300 billion valuation, according to The New York Times. This deal is part of the company’s larger plan to secure $40 billion in funding this year. The oversubscribed round was completed months ahead of schedule.
Earlier in March, OpenAI raised $2.5 billion from venture capital firms while announcing its ambitious $40 billion funding goal, led by SoftBank. The AI giant had initially planned to raise an additional $7.5 billion by year-end but exceeded expectations as investors rushed to join amid its rapid growth.
Recent reports reveal OpenAI’s financial success, with The Information stating the company hit $12 billion in annualized revenue and surpassed 700 million weekly active ChatGPT users. The New York Times now estimates revenue closer to $13 billion, with projections to reach $20 billion by the end of the year.
External factors contributing to OpenAI’s momentum include the Trump administration’s AI Action Plan and ongoing discussions with Microsoft, which could further solidify its transition into a full-fledged for-profit company.
Dragoneer Investment Group led the latest funding round with a substantial $2.8 billion investment. New participants included major players like Blackstone, TPG, and T. Rowe Price, alongside firms such as Altimeter Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Coatue Management, and Sequoia Capital. Some early investors expressed dissatisfaction with smaller allocations as OpenAI prioritized new strategic backers. OpenAI has not yet commented on these developments.