Microsoft recorded $10 billion in revenue from OpenAI

In the quarter ended September 30, Microsoft recorded $10 billion in revenue stemming from commercial agreements with OpenAI, accounting for around 11% of Microsoft's total quarterly earnings of $92.3 billion. This substantial revenue stream underscores the enduring financial connection between the two tech giants, even as they vie for the same clientele.

The revenue from OpenAI reached $24.1 billion for the entire fiscal year 2026. Microsoft also held $7.2 billion in outstanding payments owed to OpenAI as of September, up from $6 billion in June. The nature of these payments remains unclear, whether they derive from revenue-sharing or Azure cloud services. Microsoft has sought further clarification on this matter.

According to a November 2025 report by TechCrunch, citing leaked documents, Microsoft received $865.8 million in net revenue-sharing payments from OpenAI during the first nine months of 2025. OpenAI reportedly allocates 20% of its earnings to Microsoft under a prior arrangement in which Microsoft invested over $13 billion in the AI firm.

However, neither OpenAI nor Microsoft has officially confirmed this percentage. As part of a deal signed in April 2026, OpenAI agreed to continue sharing revenue with Microsoft through 2030, barring any caps. Despite this, OpenAI retains the ability to collaborate with competing cloud providers. The companies began to ease their exclusive partnership in October 2025, when Microsoft ceded control to OpenAI, allowing it to form partnerships with additional cloud service providers.

In return, OpenAI pledged to spend an additional $250 billion on Azure services under an October 2025 agreement. Microsoft's stake in OpenAI has seen a slight decrease, from approximately 25% in June to 24% in September, reflecting a gradual reduction since the company's recapitalization in October 2025.