Inside why Bill Gates expected Microsoft to burn $1B on OpenAI — and how the bet paid off far beyond that

windowscentral.com May 13, 2026

Inside why Bill Gates expected Microsoft to burn $1B on OpenAI — and how the bet paid off far beyond that

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · May 13, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Bill Gates initially expressed skepticism about Microsoft's $1 billion investment in OpenAI, warning that the company would "burn" the funds. However, the partnership has generated approximately $30 billion in revenue for Microsoft between 2023 and 2025. The revenue primarily comes from OpenAI's infrastructure needs, with the AI firm spending up to $23 billion to rent Microsoft's Azure servers. The partnership has evolved, with Microsoft now holding a 27% stake in OpenAI, valued at approximately $135 billion. The deal has become non-exclusive, allowing OpenAI to provide products to customers across any cloud provider. Microsoft remains OpenAI's primary cloud partner, with products shipping on Azure first. The partnership's success has been significant, with Microsoft's investment paying off far beyond initial expectations. The company's involvement with OpenAI has been crucial, with Gates playing a key role in fostering the partnership.

💡 Why It Matters

· Microsoft's successful bet on OpenAI underscores the potential for strategic investments in AI to drive massive revenue growth.
· The partnership's evolution also highlights the importance of adaptability in high-stakes tech collaborations.

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