OpenAI’s Revenue Run Rate Nears $70B: What the Surge Shows

OpenAI’s reported annualized revenue run rate was nearing $70 billion by late September 2026, after rising more than 70% since the start of July. The reported growth reflects a fast-changing business—but the figure is an estimate based on the company’s recent pace, not revenue already earned over a full year.18

What the $70 billion figure means

An annualized run rate extrapolates from recent performance. It can help show how quickly a business is growing, but it is not the same as a full year of realized revenue. The late-September estimate came from people familiar with OpenAI’s finances cited in reporting, rather than a public company filing.128

That distinction matters: the figure alone does not show how much OpenAI ultimately brings in over a year, or whether it is profitable.

From more than $40 billion to nearly $70 billion

In August, Bloomberg reported that OpenAI was on pace for more than $40 billion in annualized revenue.212 By late September, the reported run rate had climbed to almost $70 billion—more than 70% higher than at the start of the third quarter in July.18

Reports attributed the jump to gains in both business and consumer revenue. Enterprise sales more than doubled since July, according to sources cited by Axios and Reuters. The same reporting said OpenAI added more consumer revenue during the third quarter than it had added during all of 2025.18 That comparison describes revenue added during the period; it does not provide a precise consumer-revenue total.

AI coding software was also cited as one contributor to the acceleration. Bloomberg reported that growth in OpenAI’s coding software had helped drive the recent revenue gains.2

How OpenAI’s figure compares with Anthropic’s

Anthropic told investors its annualized revenue run rate had reached $65 billion in July, according to CNBC.16 OpenAI’s nearly $70 billion estimate was reported for late September. Because the figures refer to different dates—and are reported estimates—they do not establish which company had the higher run rate at the same point in time.

Anthropic was moving toward a public listing, and Reuters reviewed its IPO prospectus. The prospectus also put a spotlight on the costs of scaling: Reuters reported that Anthropic planned to spend $518 billion on cloud computing and infrastructure obligations in the coming years. Its IPO materials included a warning that advanced AI could pose “catastrophic or existential risks to humanity.”

A private funding push, not a profitability verdict

OpenAI was reportedly seeking at least $30 billion in new funding at a roughly $1.4 trillion pre-money valuation. The discussions were described as early, with terms subject to change; the proposed funding was reported as a bridge in place of an IPO. Separate reporting said OpenAI had postponed its IPO plans.

The revenue estimate does not answer whether OpenAI is profitable. The reports provide no expense breakdown sufficient to draw that conclusion.20 Revenue growth can be substantial while costs remain substantial too; without information on expenses, margins and cash needs, the run rate is only part of the financial picture.

What the news does—and doesn’t—say about partners

A market report linked the revenue news to a rebound in Oracle shares.10 That is a reported market reaction, not a measure of revenue or profit Oracle earns from OpenAI. The available reporting also does not quantify a direct financial effect on Microsoft from the late-September run-rate estimate.11

The clearest takeaway is therefore about OpenAI’s reported commercial momentum: enterprise sales and consumer revenue were rising rapidly, with coding software among the cited growth drivers. The headline number does not, by itself, establish annual revenue, profitability, or the financial impact on the companies that supply or partner with OpenAI.