Green Owl

AI

They bet on both

OpenAI and Anthropic are fierce rivals. Amazon, Microsoft and Nvidia have put billions into both of them.

Numbers as of 28 Sept 2026

The full story

  1. Five investor logos across the top: SoftBank, Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia and Google. Below, two plates: OpenAI, valued at $852B in March 2026, and Anthropic, valued at $965B in May 2026. A grey line runs from SoftBank to OpenAI, $30B, and from Google to Anthropic, $40B. Amazon, Microsoft and Nvidia a
  2. Amazon bet on both and bet the most: $83B put in or promised. $50B went to OpenAI and up to $33B to Anthropic. More than anyone else here.
  3. Nvidia bet on both: $40B put in or promised. $30B went to OpenAI and up to $10B to Anthropic, three dollars to one. It sells chips to both of them.
  4. Microsoft bet on both: more than $18B put in or promised. More than $13B went to OpenAI over the years and up to $5B to Anthropic. Its latest OpenAI cheque is not public.
  5. Google picked one side: up to $40B, all of it on Anthropic and nothing on OpenAI. The biggest single bet on Anthropic.
  6. SoftBank picked one side: $30B in the latest round, all of it on OpenAI and nothing on Anthropic. Counting earlier rounds it has paid in $64.6B so far.
  7. Add it all up: more money on OpenAI, a higher price on Anthropic. These five put in or promised more than $123B to OpenAI, valued at $852B in March 2026, and $88B to Anthropic, valued at $965B in May 2026. Four of the five backed each one, and all three who bet on both put more on OpenAI.
  8. Would you back both? Choices: OpenAI, Anthropic, or both. One, the other, or both like Amazon? Follow Green Owl if you want more.

The two biggest AI labs share some of the same backers.

Amazon: $50B into OpenAI's round this year, and up to $33B committed to Anthropic. Microsoft: $13B+ into OpenAI over the years, plus money in its latest round, and up to $5B into Anthropic. Nvidia: $30B into OpenAI's round, and up to $10B into Anthropic.

Others picked a side. SoftBank put $30B into OpenAI. Google has committed up to $40B to Anthropic.

Why back both? These companies also sell to the labs: cloud computing and chips. Whoever wins, they get paid.

How big are the two? OpenAI was valued at $852B in its March round and Anthropic at $965B in May. Both are now reportedly aiming far higher: OpenAI is weighing a round above $1.2T, and Anthropic is targeting about $2T in a planned IPO.

Several figures are commitments that pay out over time or on milestones, not money already handed over.

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Where the numbers come from

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Companies in this picture

AmazonAnthropicGoogleMicrosoftNvidiaOpenAISoftBank

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