OpenAI’s annualised revenue is reportedly “approaching $50 billion”, about $20 billion below the roughly $70 billion figure reported two weeks earlier, according to TechCrunch, which cites the Financial Times. OpenAI had not confirmed the lower number on the record, TechCrunch said.
Inside this story
- Where the two numbers came from
- The Anthropic comparison
- Funding and IPO backdrop
- What to watch
- OpenAI revenue: questions answered
Where the two numbers came from
Axios reported on 29 September 2026 that OpenAI’s annualised revenue was approaching $70 billion. Per the Financial Times, as relayed by TechCrunch, that figure came from information shared with OpenAI investors and was an attempt to compare OpenAI directly with Anthropic. The Financial Times now reports OpenAI has told investors the figure is closer to $50 billion.
The Anthropic comparison
CNBC reported on 17 August 2026 that Anthropic’s annualised revenue reached $65 billion in July. TechCrunch notes the two companies calculate the metric differently: Anthropic counts sales made through its cloud partners, while OpenAI does not. That accounting difference means the headline numbers are not like-for-like. Anthropic is a competitor of OpenAI, so each side’s figures should be read with that interest in mind.
Funding and IPO backdrop
TechCrunch lists OpenAI’s $122 billion funding round in March 2026, and notes CNBC reported on 19 August that the company’s IPO has been pushed to early 2027. Leaked 2025 financials reported by Inc. showed about $13 billion in revenue, with spending significantly higher. Investor appetite for AI-linked listings is a live question, as our coverage of the data-centre backlash and the stalled listings in our data-centre IPO report shows.
What to watch
The key tests are whether OpenAI confirms its figure, whether investors accept a like-for-like methodology across AI labs, and how the revision affects the IPO timetable. For more on the company’s recent turmoil see our report on the safety researcher resignation.
OpenAI revenue: questions answered
What is OpenAI’s reported annualised revenue now?
Approaching $50 billion, according to the Financial Times as relayed by TechCrunch.
What was the earlier figure?
Axios reported on 29 September that it was approaching $70 billion.
Has OpenAI confirmed the new number?
TechCrunch’s article carries no on-the-record confirmation.
Why are OpenAI and Anthropic hard to compare?
Anthropic counts sales through its cloud partners; OpenAI does not, per TechCrunch.
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