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OpenAI received about $11 billion on Nov. 6 as the first close of a funding round valuing the company at $1.25 trillion pre-money, according to Bloomberg and CNBC. CFO Sarah Friar confirmed the valuation figure in a CNBC interview; reports say OpenAI could raise up to another $9 billion, but the round remains open and investor contributions have not been disclosed.
OpenAI received about $11 billion on Nov. 6 in the first close of a funding round that values the ChatGPT maker at $1.25 trillion before the new investment, Bloomberg reported, with CNBC separately confirming the amount. Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar confirmed the valuation figure in a CNBC interview, while the financing remains open and could bring in more money.
Bloomberg reported that the first tranche had been wired on Nov. 6, citing people familiar with the matter. CNBC said it independently confirmed the roughly $11 billion first close and reported that OpenAI could raise up to a further $9 billion in the coming weeks, which would bring the round to about $20 billion. The company has not announced a final total.
Friar described the $1.25 trillion valuation as pre-money, meaning it refers to the company’s value before the new capital is added. The valuation basis matters when comparing this round with earlier figures. OpenAI declined to comment on the funding, according to 24/7 Wall St.; Friar’s CNBC interview is the on-record account in the supplied reporting, but she did not state the first-close amount.
Investor names in reports are not a company-published list. Bloomberg reporting, as relayed by Verdict, identified Coatue Management and T. Rowe Price as contributors to the first close. Reports also named SoftBank, Founders Fund, Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz and investors from the United Arab Emirates as participants in the broader round. Individual contributions and each investor’s precise role have not been made public.
A Larger Price, a Smaller Raise
The first close is substantial, but the reported amount is below the financing OpenAI was said to be seeking earlier in the process. Bloomberg reported that the company initially sought $30 billion or more at a $1.4 trillion valuation. Reuters, citing two investors, reported an initial asking valuation of $1.5 trillion. Friar disputed the higher figure in her CNBC interview. Those accounts differ, and the available reporting does not settle the original target or explain what changed in negotiations.
The valuation also reflects how much capital markets are willing to commit to a company at the center of the AI industry. OpenAI can use new funding to support its operations and investment plans, but the reports supplied here do not specify how this first tranche will be spent. For businesses and users that depend on OpenAI’s products, the financing is a measure of investor commitment, not a guarantee about future prices, product availability or performance.
The gap between the earlier reported target and the first close may draw attention to investor appetite for large AI financings. Bloomberg and CNBC cited greater caution around AI spending and concern that the U.S. midterm elections could complicate approvals for new data centers. These are reported factors, not a confirmed explanation from OpenAI for the size or terms of the round.
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From March’s $852 Billion Mark
OpenAI announced earlier funding rounds at $157 billion post-money in October 2024, $300 billion post-money in March 2025 and $852 billion post-money in March 2026. The November figure is described by Friar as pre-money, so comparing it directly with those post-money valuations does not use the same basis. Adding the new investment would put the implied post-money figure above $1.25 trillion, but the final amount raised is still unknown.
The March-to-November comparison is striking even with that qualification: the reported pre-money valuation rose from $852 billion to $1.25 trillion in a little over seven months. Friar described the new price as almost 50% above the March figure, according to 24/7 Wall St. The exact percentage depends on whether the comparison uses pre-money or post-money values and on the round’s final size.
The round has also shifted from early reporting about a much larger target to a first close that is now reported by multiple outlets. On Oct. 31, the Wall Street Journal had reported an $11 billion figure while the financing was still open. On Nov. 6, Bloomberg reported that the money had arrived, CNBC said it confirmed the first close, and Friar discussed the valuation on the record.
Final Size and Investor Stakes
The round is still open, and the reported possibility of another $9 billion is not a final commitment disclosed by OpenAI. It is not yet clear when the financing will close, whether it will reach about $20 billion or how much each investor has supplied.
OpenAI has not published an investor list or confirmed the reported participants. The supplied accounts also differ on the original valuation sought: Reuters cited a $1.5 trillion asking price, while Bloomberg reported $1.4 trillion. Friar disputed the higher figure, but the reporting available here does not provide a detailed account of the negotiations or resolve the discrepancy.
It also remains unclear how the company will use the new capital and whether the reported concerns about AI spending and data-center approvals affected the terms. Those points are part of media reporting about the market backdrop, not explanations confirmed by OpenAI.
More Funding Details Expected
Investors and the market will be watching for confirmation of the round’s final size and closing date. If the additional funding reported by CNBC arrives, the total could reach about $20 billion; until a final close is announced, that remains a possibility rather than a completed outcome.
Any company disclosure could clarify the investor roster, contributions and intended use of proceeds. Further reporting may also address the gap between the initial fundraising figures and the first close. For now, the confirmed on-record detail is Friar’s description of the valuation as pre-money; the first-close amount and investor identities are based on outlet reporting.
Key Questions
How much did OpenAI raise in the first close?
About $11 billion arrived on Nov. 6, according to Bloomberg, and CNBC said it confirmed the amount.
What is OpenAI’s valuation in this round?
CFO Sarah Friar described the valuation as $1.25 trillion pre-money, meaning before the new investment is added.
Could OpenAI raise more?
CNBC reported that OpenAI could raise up to another $9 billion in the coming weeks. The round remains open, so that amount and the final total are not settled.
Which investors participated?
Reports named Coatue Management and T. Rowe Price as contributors to the first close, and listed other reported participants in the broader round. OpenAI has not published a complete investor list or individual contribution amounts.
Source: Thorsten Meyer AI
