OpenAI Completes $30 Billion Funding Round Led by SoftBank

OpenAI has finalized a $30 billion funding round, spearheaded by Japanese investment giant SoftBank, according to sources cited by Wired. This latest injection of capital completes the company's $40 billion funding plan announced earlier this year. The round elevates OpenAI's total valuation to an unprecedented $300 billion, positioning it among the highest-valued private startups in history.

Earlier in 2025, OpenAI secured $10 billion in its first financing phase, with SoftBank contributing $7.5 billion and other investors providing the remaining $2.5 billion. The current round includes $22.5 billion from SoftBank and $7.5 billion from additional investor groups.

Strategic Partnerships and Investor Landscape

Since its founding in 2015, OpenAI has raised a staggering $63.92 billion, per PitchBook data. Its investor roster features industry heavyweights like Microsoft, Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, and NVIDIA. Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI is particularly notable: the tech giant supplies vast cloud computing resources, while OpenAI grants Microsoft exclusive access to its core AI models.

The 'Stargate' Project: A $50B AI Data Center Initiative

Beyond funding, OpenAI is collaborating with SoftBank and others on the ambitious "Stargate" project, a four-year endeavor to develop AI data centers with an estimated investment exceeding $50 billion. The initiative aims to establish 10 gigawatts of new computing capacity across the U.S.

While OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has championed the project, The Wall Street Journal reports disagreements over logistical details, including data center locations. Despite these challenges, both companies reaffirmed their commitment to "empower advanced AI and make its benefits widely accessible."

Corporate Structure Controversies

OpenAI’s organizational model has drawn scrutiny, notably from co-founder Elon Musk, who left the board in 2018. Musk later sued OpenAI, alleging it abandoned its original mission of "benefiting humanity" in favor of profit maximization for Microsoft.

In response, OpenAI proposed a new structure in May 2025: retaining control under a nonprofit while converting its for-profit subsidiary into a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC). This hybrid model would prioritize public good while ensuring shareholder returns. SoftBank’s investment hinges on regulatory approval of this framework by early 2026.

Key Points:

• OpenAI’s valuation reaches $300 billion after a $30B funding round led by SoftBank.
• The "Stargate" project aims to build AI data centers with over $50B in investment.
• Microsoft remains a key partner, with exclusive rights to OpenAI’s core models.
• Elon Musk’s lawsuit highlights tensions over OpenAI’s profit-driven shift.
• A proposed PBC structure seeks to balance public benefit and shareholder interests.