---
title: "TechCrunch: OpenAI's revenue reportedly $20B below earlier figures"
url: https://stacklist.com/card/46ecb24d-8d96-4e68-92da-36d4c50a3654
source_url: "https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/08/openais-revenue-is-reportedly-20-billion-less-than-previously-projected/"
stack: https://stacklist.com/c/finance/stack/7f731214-b66b-4d90-921a-0456279c87c5
summary: "OpenAI's annualized revenue is reportedly $50 billion, $20 billion lower than previously projected figures shared with investors. The discrepancy arose from different revenue calculation methods between OpenAI and competitor Anthropic, with OpenAI's IPO now delayed until early 2027."
tags: "openai, revenue, funding, ai-companies, financial-reporting, anthropic"
key_entities: "OpenAI (organization), Anthropic (organization), TechCrunch (organization), Financial Times (organization), Lucas Ropek (person), annualized revenue (concept), March funding round (event)"
classification: "analysis"
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acp_version: "0.2"
token_counts_approximate: 772
visibility: public
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status: "final"
---

# TechCrunch: OpenAI's revenue reportedly $20B below earlier figures

In Brief Posted: 11:19 AM PDT · October 8, 2026 Image Credits: Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto / Getty Images Lucas Ropek OpenAI’s revenue is reportedly $20 billion less than previously projected A little over a week ago, it was reported that OpenAI’s annualized revenue was approaching $70 billion, a figure that would have made it competitive with Anthropic’s reported run rate . Now, however, the AI lab is said to have told investors that the real revenue is some $20 billion lower than that. The Financial Times reports that the company has told investors that its annualized revenue is “approaching $50 billion.” The $70 billion figure was previously reported by news outlets and based on information that had been shared with OpenAI investors, the outlet writes. That figure was devised via “attempts by OpenAI’s own investors to produce a direct comparison with Anthropic’s annualised revenues,” per the FT. It’s worth pointing out that OpenAI and Anthropic calculate their annualized revenue differently — with Anthropic counting sales made by its cloud partners. OpenAI doesn’t do this. TechCrunch reached out to OpenAI for comment. The issue of OpenAI’s revenue has troubled the company, as it attempts to justify the gargantuan investments being made on its behalf; the AI giant raised $122 billion during a March funding round alone. The company’s leaked 2025 financials earlier this year showed it had made about $13 billion but spent significantly more. OpenAI’s IPO, which was previously rumored to be materializing this year, has been pushed off until early 2027. Topics AI , Anthropic , In Brief , OpenAI November 4 Boston Get 50% off a second pass Cover more ground at TechCrunch’s ultimate founder bootcamp of the year by bringing your co-founder or partner. Save 50% off a second pass. Meet scaling and investment leaders, ask questions, find solutions, and more. Last day to save Oct. 16 Register Now Newsletters See More Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news TechCrunch Daily News Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage. TechCrunch Mobility TechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight. Startups Weekly Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly. StrictlyVC Provides movers and shakers with the info they need to start their day. No newsletters selected. Subscribe By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . Related AI Anthropic says its workforce has become less junior and is spending more time in meetings Anthony Ha 2 days ago AI Replit makes OpenAI its default over Anthropic, CEO says Kirsten Korosec Lucas Ropek Rebecca Bellan 2 days ago Latest in AI In Brief Anthropic says it’s committing 5% of its shares to a ‘public benefit fund’ Anthony Ha 18 hours ago In Brief Disney agrees to hire the majority of Character.AI’s workforce Anthony Ha 22 hours ago In Brief Meta removes language that raised scraping and AI training concerns Anthony Ha 2 days ago