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OpenAI tells investors its revenue run rate nears $50 billion
The figure sits about $20 billion below the $70 billion that circulated in earlier reports, and AI stocks fell on the news.
OpenAI has told investors that its annualised revenue was approaching $50 billion for September, the Financial Times reported on Thursday 8 October 2026, according to TechCrunch. Earlier press reports, built on material shared with OpenAI’s investors, had put the figure near $70 billion.
A person familiar with the matter confirmed the lower number to Reuters and said the gap came mainly from an attempt to line OpenAI up against Anthropic. Anthropic counts sales made through cloud partners such as AWS and Google Cloud; OpenAI does not. OpenAI did not answer Reuters’ request for comment. OpenAI also pointed to 77% growth in its run rate during the third quarter and 107% for its enterprise business, SiliconANGLE reports.
Markets reacted within hours. The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.25%, its worst day since mid-August, CNN reports, with Oracle down 5.5%, Intel 5.3% and Nvidia 2.9%. Anthropic’s annualised revenue crossed $65 billion in July, according to Reuters, and OpenAI has pushed its stock market listing to next year at the earliest.
For anyone comparing the two labs before a long API commitment, their headline revenue figures are built on different rules: one counts partner sales and the other does not.
Sources
- TechCrunch: “OpenAI’s revenue is reportedly $20 billion less than previously projected”. Checked
- Reuters (The Economic Times): “OpenAI’s September annualized revenue nears $50 billion, less than previously indicated”. Checked
- CNN: Tech stocks drop after report that OpenAI’s revenue is lower than expected. Checked
- SiliconANGLE: “AI stocks crumble on report that OpenAI’s annualized revenue is much lower than believed”. Checked
Alexandre S.
Alexandre S. is a creative ad strategist and copywriter with ten years' experience in digital marketing across multiple channels.