Recent leaks have shed light on the financial relationship between OpenAI and Microsoft, revealing intriguing insights into revenue-sharing agreements and inference costs.
Tech blogger Ed Zitron uncovered documents that disclosed significant figures regarding OpenAI’s payments to Microsoft under a revenue-sharing deal. The leaked data portrays a substantial financial exchange between the two tech entities.
In 2024, Microsoft reportedly received $493.8 million from OpenAI as part of their revenue-sharing arrangement. This amount notably surged to $865.8 million in the first three quarters of 2025, highlighting the escalating nature of their financial ties.
OpenAI is said to allocate 20% of its revenue to Microsoft based on a previous investment deal amounting to over $13 billion. This financial commitment showcases the depth of collaboration between the AI startup and the software giant.
However, the complexity of the partnership becomes apparent as Microsoft reciprocates by sharing revenues with OpenAI, returning around 20% of the proceeds generated from Bing and Azure OpenAI Service. Bing’s operations leverage OpenAI’s capabilities, while the Azure OpenAI Service offers cloud access to the startup’s models for developers and businesses.
Moreover, the leaked documents illustrate Microsoft’s net revenue share, excluding the figures related to Bing and Azure OpenAI royalties. This intricate financial interplay underscores the complex mechanisms at play within this strategic partnership.
Despite the lack of specific financial disclosures from Microsoft regarding Bing and Azure OpenAI revenues, the leaked information provides a rare glimpse into the financial dynamics of these tech powerhouses.
Source: TechCrunch