Altman Defends OpenAI’s Financial Strength, Says Revenue Surpasses $13 Billion

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has made it clear that the company’s financial position is stronger than what most reports suggest. During a November 1 appearance on the BG2 podcast alongside Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Altman confirmed that OpenAI’s annual revenue now exceeds $13 billion — and “well more” than the widely circulated figure.

When host Brad Gerstner questioned whether OpenAI could sustain its massive infrastructure spending commitments — reportedly totaling more than $1 trillion — Altman’s response was direct and confident.

“We’re doing well more revenue than that,” he said. “And Brad, if you want to sell your shares, I’ll find you a buyer. I just — enough.”

The exchange highlighted growing scrutiny around OpenAI’s financial sustainability amid its ambitious expansion plans. With billions being poured into computing infrastructure, AI research, and global partnerships, Altman’s assertive tone signaled strong internal confidence in OpenAI’s growth trajectory.

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Massive Infrastructure Commitments Backed by Confidence

OpenAI’s commitments total around $1.4 trillion over the next decade, with roughly $250 billion already allocated to Microsoft’s Azure cloud infrastructure. These figures have raised eyebrows across the tech and finance world, prompting discussions about whether OpenAI can balance its revenue growth with capital-intensive AI computing demands.

Altman, however, dismissed the skepticism, calling out what he described as “ridiculous” speculation about the company’s financial stability.

“There are not many times that I want to be a public company, but one of the rare times it’s appealing is when those people write these ‘OpenAI is going out of business’ posts,” he said. “I’d love to see them short the stock — and watch them lose.”

During the same conversation, when Gerstner predicted that OpenAI could hit $100 billion in annual revenue by 2028 or 2029, Altman confidently corrected him:

“How about ’27?”

This remark hints that OpenAI’s internal projections are far more aggressive than what industry analysts expect.

Microsoft Partnership Strengthens OpenAI’s Momentum

Satya Nadella, who appeared amused during parts of the conversation, offered his strong endorsement of OpenAI’s progress. He stated that OpenAI has outperformed every business plan presented to Microsoft since their partnership began.

Microsoft’s total investment in OpenAI — now valued at around $13 billion — has resulted in a 27% ownership stake, which analysts estimate is worth approximately $135 billion after OpenAI’s latest corporate restructuring.

This alliance gives OpenAI both financial stability and cloud infrastructure capacity at a scale unmatched by most competitors. Nadella’s remarks also underscored Microsoft’s faith in OpenAI’s leadership, even as the AI race intensifies with players like Google DeepMind, Anthropic, and Amazon expanding their own ecosystems.

No IPO Yet, But the Future Looks Public

Despite rumors of an OpenAI IPO surfacing in late 2025, Altman denied that any such move is currently being prepared.

“No, no, we don’t have anything that specific,” Altman clarified. “I’m a realist — I assume it’ll happen someday, but there’s no date, no board decision, nothing like that.”

However, reports indicate that OpenAI’s recent conversion into a public benefit corporation could pave the way for a historic IPO, possibly targeting a $1 trillion valuation by late 2026. This transition offers the company greater flexibility to raise capital while maintaining its mission-driven governance model.

A Growing AI Empire

OpenAI’s explosive revenue growth, coupled with its strategic partnership with Microsoft, paints a picture of a company that’s no longer just leading the AI revolution — it’s defining the industry’s direction.

From ChatGPT and DALL·E to enterprise integrations with Azure and Microsoft 365 Copilot, OpenAI has built a diversified business that is now reshaping both consumer and enterprise technology.

As Altman continues to navigate between financial scrutiny and unprecedented growth, his message is clear — OpenAI is not slowing down anytime soon.