Nvidia Eyes $30 Billion Bet on OpenAI in Massive New Funding Round

With input from Reuters, CNBC, and the Financial Times.

Nvidia is in talks to pour as much as $30 billion into OpenAI, in what could become one of the largest private funding deals ever in tech.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, the investment would be part of a broader fundraising round that could value the ChatGPT maker at a jaw-dropping $730 billion pre-money — and potentially around $830 billion overall if the full round closes north of $100 billion.

Importantly, this proposed $30 billion check is separate from the $100 billion infrastructure partnership the two companies unveiled back in September. That earlier agreement laid out a framework for Nvidia to invest over several years as OpenAI brought massive new AI supercomputing facilities online. At the time, Nvidia was expected to deploy an initial $10 billion once certain infrastructure milestones — like the completion of its first gigawatt of capacity — were met.

This new $30 billion proposal, however, isn’t tied to deployment milestones, one source said. It’s a standalone equity investment, and while discussions have accelerated in recent weeks, nothing is finalized yet. Terms could still change.

The Financial Times first reported the latest talks.

Questions have been swirling about the original $100 billion infrastructure deal, especially after reports in January suggested it was “on ice.” Nvidia had previously cautioned in a November earnings filing that there was “no assurance” it would reach definitive agreements related to OpenAI or other potential investments.

Still, both sides have publicly downplayed any tension. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently brushed off speculation about a rift, saying the company loves working with Nvidia. Meanwhile, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told CNBC earlier this month there was “no question” Nvidia would participate in OpenAI’s next funding round.

The broader raise is expected to pull in other tech heavyweights as well. Companies such as Amazon, Microsoft and SoftBank Group are reportedly in discussions to participate.

If completed, the deal would further tighten the already interwoven relationships between AI model developers, chip suppliers and cloud giants — all racing to dominate the next era of artificial intelligence. For Nvidia, taking a sizable equity stake in one of its largest customers would cement its role not just as the arms dealer of the AI boom, but as a direct financial backer of its biggest players.

Nvidia declined to comment.