Microsoft generated $10 billion in revenue from its commercial arrangements with OpenAI during the quarter ended September 30, 2026, highlighting the scale of the financial relationship between the two companies as they increasingly compete in the artificial intelligence market.
The figure was disclosed in Microsoft’s latest regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The revenue, which includes payments from revenue-sharing arrangements, accounted for nearly 11% of Microsoft’s total quarterly revenue of $92.3 billion. Microsoft’s fiscal year begins in July, making the reporting period the first quarter of fiscal 2027.
The latest results follow a strong financial year for the partnership. Microsoft reported $24.1 billion in revenue from commercial arrangements with OpenAI during fiscal 2026, which ended on June 30. If the company continues generating revenue at the latest quarterly rate, its annual revenue from OpenAI-related arrangements could reach approximately $40 billion.
Microsoft also reported $7.2 billion in outstanding receivables from OpenAI as of September 30, up from $6 billion at the end of June. These receivables represent amounts OpenAI owes Microsoft for previous transactions and are separate from revenue recorded during the quarter.
The filing does not break down how much of the $10 billion came from Azure cloud computing services and how much came from revenue-sharing payments. Earlier reporting by TechCrunch, citing leaked documents, indicated that Microsoft received $865.8 million in net revenue-sharing payments from OpenAI during the first nine months of 2025. OpenAI has reportedly shared a portion of its revenue with Microsoft under their previous agreements, although the companies have not publicly confirmed every detail of the payment structure.
The relationship has evolved significantly since Microsoft first invested heavily in OpenAI. The software company committed more than $13 billion to the AI developer, becoming a major investor and its primary cloud infrastructure partner. Under an amended agreement announced in April 2026, Microsoft will continue receiving revenue-sharing payments through 2030, subject to an overall cap.
The updated arrangement also gives OpenAI greater flexibility to serve customers through competing cloud providers. Microsoft remains OpenAI’s primary cloud partner, and OpenAI products are expected to ship first on Azure unless Microsoft cannot or chooses not to support the required capabilities. The companies also agreed that Microsoft’s license to OpenAI’s intellectual property would continue through 2032, but would no longer be exclusive.
Their cloud computing relationship remains substantial. Under an agreement announced in October 2025, OpenAI committed to purchasing an additional $250 billion in Azure services. That commitment gives Microsoft a major commercial relationship with one of the world’s most prominent AI developers, even as both companies expand their own AI products and pursue overlapping enterprise customers.
Microsoft’s ownership stake in OpenAI has also changed over time. The latest reporting indicates that its interest declined from approximately 25% in June to around 24% in September, following the company’s recapitalization and additional funding activity. Microsoft has not provided a specific explanation for the latest change in its ownership percentage.
The figures underline how closely the companies remain connected financially. Microsoft supplies cloud infrastructure, holds an ownership interest in OpenAI and receives revenue through commercial arrangements, while OpenAI continues expanding its products and partnerships. Their relationship is becoming more flexible, but the latest results show that it remains a significant source of revenue for Microsoft.
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