OpenAI is making venture capital history: The $122 billion financing round catapults the company to a valuation of $852 billion, making it the most valuable startup of all time.
From the $40 Billion to the $122 Billion Deal
The new round surpasses OpenAI's own record from 2025 by a factor of three. Back then, the $40 billion round was considered extraordinary — today it looks small compared to the current mega-financing.
Retail Investors Participate for the First Time
Noteworthy is the participation of retail investors with $3 billion — a first for deals of this magnitude. This opening to private investors underscores OpenAI's ambitions to mobilize broad societal support for AI development.
- Total round: $122 billion
- Valuation: $852 billion
- Retail share: $3 billion
- Previous round: $40 billion (2025)
The astronomical valuation reflects OpenAI's dominant position in the AI market, but also brings enormous pressure to justify these expectations through corresponding revenues.
Source: TechCrunch 03/31/2026