Huge OpenAI Funding Round Hinges on Shedding Nonprofit Status

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, announced a monumental $40 billion funding round on Monday, valuing the artificial intelligence company at $300 billion. This deal positions OpenAI among the most valuable private companies globally, rivaling corporate giants like Coca-Cola and Chevron. However, the full amount of this investment is contingent on a critical condition: OpenAI must transition from its nonprofit roots to a fully for-profit entity by the end of 2025. A source familiar with the deal confirmed that failure to complete this restructuring will reduce the funding significantly.

The funding is led by Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, which is committing $30 billion of the total $40 billion, with an additional $10 billion pledged earlier in mid-April. SoftBank’s investment, however, comes with a caveat—if OpenAI does not successfully convert to a for-profit structure by year-end, SoftBank will scale back its contribution to $20 billion. The remaining funding is supported by Microsoft, Coatue Management, Altimeter Capital, and Thrive Capital, with SoftBank planning to syndicate $10 billion of its investment to other unnamed co-investors. This strategic partnership underscores SoftBank’s growing influence as OpenAI’s key corporate ally, shifting dynamics from its historically strong ties with Microsoft.

OpenAI’s valuation reflects investor confidence in AI’s transformative potential, despite its $3.7 billion in reported revenue last year pales in comparison to Chevron’s $190 billion. The company aims to leverage this capital to advance AI research, expand computational infrastructure, and enhance tools for its 500 million weekly ChatGPT users. Yet, the transition to a for-profit model is fraught with challenges. OpenAI’s nonprofit origins, intended to develop AI for humanity’s benefit, have clashed with its commercial ambitions, as evidenced by past turmoil—including the brief ousting of CEO Sam Altman in November 2023 by its nonprofit board, only for him to be reinstated amid pressure from investors and employees.

Legal disputes further complicate OpenAI’s evolution, notably with co-founder Elon Musk, who accuses Altman of abandoning the company’s mission for personal gain. Musk, now leading rival AI firm xAI (valued at $80 billion), has initiated a lawsuit, which OpenAI counters by asserting it will maintain a well-funded nonprofit arm.

Meanwhile, the company’s rapid growth is undeniable—following a $6.6 billion raise in October 2024 at a $157 billion valuation, this latest round nearly doubles its worth. OpenAI projects $12.7 billion in revenue for 2025, with ambitions of reaching $125 billion by 2029, though it anticipates remaining cash flow negative until then due to hefty investments in AI data centers, such as the $500 billion Stargate initiative with SoftBank.

The stakes are high as OpenAI navigates this pivotal shift. 

“AI is a defining force shaping humanity’s future. Our expanded partnership with OpenAI accelerates our shared vision to unlock its full potential,” said SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son in a statement.

This funding round not only highlights the insatiable investor appetite for AI but also marks a turning point for OpenAI as it balances its mission-driven legacy with the competitive realities of a for-profit future. Success in this transformation will determine whether OpenAI secures the full $40 billion—and cements its leadership in the AI race.