Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group (SFTBY) is considering investing an additional $30 billion in OpenAI’s latest funding round, valuing the AI startup at $830 billion. The ChatGPT maker is seeking up to $100 billion in fresh capital to fuel training and operations for advanced AI models. SoftBank shares rallied on the Tokyo Stock Exchange following the news on January 28.
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This new commitment would build on SoftBank’s already large 11% stake, valued at $41 billion as of December 2025. The Masayoshi Son-led firm is doubling down on its investment in Sam Altman’s company to strengthen its position in the AI race. In December, SoftBank invested $22.5 billion in OpenAI by selling its stake in chipmaker Nvidia (NVDA) for $5.8 billion. This move drew a lot of criticism, though Son stated the company is “deeply aligned with OpenAI’s vision.” It remains to be seen how SoftBank will fund this new investment.
OpenAI’s Funding Needs Keep Growing
OpenAI requires substantial capital to develop AI models, cover massive computing costs, expand operations, and hire top talent amid competition from Meta (META) and Alphabet (GOOGL). Altman is negotiating with Middle East sovereign wealth funds, venture capitalists, and existing backers like Thrive Capital, Khosla Ventures, and UAE’s MGX. The company aims to close the round by the end of Q1 2027, while it is also planning for an initial public offering (IPO) next year.
This fundraising would add to OpenAI’s existing $64 billion in capital. A recent secondary sale valued the company at around $500 billion, signaling strong investor confidence in its future revenue and strategic edge. Microsoft (MSFT) remains OpenAI’s largest stakeholder, with about 28% stake valued at $135–$140 billion, based on a late-2025 valuation of $500 billion.
Which Is the Best ChatGPT Stock?
We used the TipRanks Stock Comparison Tool to identify the Best ChatGPT Stocks, according to analysts.
Wall Street has assigned a “Strong Buy” consensus rating to Baidu (BIDU), Amazon (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet, and Nvidia, with NVDA shares offering the highest upside potential over the next twelve months.
