There are reports that OpenAI has been been experiencing impressive financial growth. The Information reported that the company’s annualized revenue has surged from $1.6 billion last year to an astounding $3.4 billion in 2024.
The bulk of OpenAI’s revenue is derived from its subscription-based version of ChatGPT. For a monthly fee of $20, subscribers gain access to higher messaging limits, a model that has proven to be quite lucrative. In addition to individual subscriptions, OpenAI earns substantial revenue from developers who integrate its large language models (LLMs) into their applications and services.
A significant portion of OpenAI’s revenue also comes from a partnership with Microsoft. This collaboration generates around $200 million annually, as OpenAI receives a share of the sales from its LLMs used by Azure customers, Microsoft’s cloud computing platform targeted at businesses.
Despite these impressive revenue figures, OpenAI’s financial transparency remains somewhat opaque. But the report by The Information was said to be confirmed by CEO Sam Altman in a communication to staff.
And OpenAI spokesperson mentioned that some financial details in the report were “inaccurate” but did not specify which aspects were disputed.
Sam Altman’s prowess in raising funds has played a crucial role in OpenAI’s success. His ability to secure investments and partnerships has positioned OpenAI’s services as a significant source of revenue.
The combination of subscription services, developer integrations, and strategic partnerships has not only grown revenues, but also created a diversified revenue stream that continues to grow rapidly. But the other side of the picture – the costs providing these services is a big unknown at this point and while the companies revenue growth is impressive, no-one is reporting if the company will achieve profitability or by when.
