Valuation sprint of $83 billion! OpenAI starts a massive $50 billion financing, targeting Middle Eastern "oil tycoons".

According to sources familiar with the matter, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been meeting with top investors in the Middle East to raise funds for a new round of financing, with the total financing amount potentially reaching at least 50 billion dollars. Altman recently visited the region and held discussions with investors, including some leading government support funds in Abu Dhabi. Sources say that the ChatGPT manufacturer is seeking to raise 50 billion dollars or more in this round of financing, with a valuation estimated at around 750 to 830 billion dollars. Negotiations are still in the early stages, and the amount may change. It has been reported that OpenAI has also been in talks with Amazon recently for a potential financing of at least 10 billion dollars. The company has previously discussed raising billions of dollars at a valuation of 750 billion dollars. In recent years, OpenAI has raised billions of dollars to cover the massive costs of building new artificial intelligence systems and supporting the wider application of the technology, including the costs of chips, data centers, and talent. This unprofitable startup has committed to investing over 1.4 trillion dollars in artificial intelligence infrastructure in the coming years. Several top artificial intelligence developers, including Anthropic PBC and xAI under Elon Musk, have also turned to wealthy investors in the Middle East to meet their growing funding needs. OpenAI had previously raised funds from the Abu Dhabi-based tech investment company MGX. The company is also partnering with G42 to build a large data center in the United Arab Emirates. While OpenAI and ChatGPT are still synonymous with artificial intelligence for many, the company is facing increasingly fierce competition from rivals such as Google under Alphabet and Anthropic. Anthropic is also in discussions for a new round of financing at a valuation of 350 billion dollars. OpenAI's most recent valuation was reached in a transaction in the fall of 2025 at 500 billion dollars, which allowed some employees to sell their shares.