OpenAI Forecasts Explosive Revenue Growth: From $4 Billion to $174 Billion by 2030
OpenAI projects revenue growth from $4 billion to $174 billion by 2030, driven by AI agents, user monetization, and expanding its global user base.
Recent internal documents reveal OpenAI's ambitious financial roadmap, projecting a staggering revenue increase from $3.7 billion in 2024 to $125 billion by 2029, ultimately reaching $174 billion in 2030. This represents one of the most aggressive growth trajectories in tech history, positioning the AI leader to potentially rival industry giants like Nvidia and Meta Platforms within just five years.
The company's 2024 revenue already marks a nearly fourfold increase from 2023, demonstrating significant market momentum. While ChatGPT subscriptions currently drive most of OpenAI's revenue, the company anticipates two new ventures will fuel its explosive growth: advanced AI agents and monetization of its free user base.
AI agents like Operator, which can perform tasks autonomously on behalf of users, are expected to generate $29 billion by 2029—nearly a quarter of projected total revenue. These specialized agents will command premium prices, with monthly subscriptions ranging from $2,000 to $20,000 depending on their capabilities. SoftBank has already committed to investing $3 billion annually in OpenAI's agent products, including the formation of a joint venture called "Cristal Intelligence" in Japan.
The second major growth driver involves monetizing OpenAI's substantial non-paying user base. This initiative is expected to contribute $25 billion by 2029, representing about one-fifth of total revenue. While specific monetization strategies remain undecided, the company is exploring affiliate marketing for user referrals to shopping sites and traditional advertising, with implementation targeted for 2026.
Despite these ambitious projections, OpenAI forecasts continued negative cash flow—approximately $46 billion through 2028—before reaching break-even in 2029 with a positive cash flow of nearly $12 billion. The company expects its gross profit margin to improve significantly, from 40% in 2023 to almost 70% by 2029.
OpenAI's user metrics further support these projections. Currently, ChatGPT has approximately 500 million weekly active users, with less than 5% paying for the service. By 2030, the company aims to reach 3 billion monthly active users, with 2 billion engaging weekly and 900 million using its products daily.
The company is also exploring a shift from its current flat-rate subscription model to usage-based billing, as CEO Sam Altman has indicated that even the premium tier ($200/month) operates at a loss for intensive users. Additionally, OpenAI continues to develop new technology in image, audio, video generation, robotics, and custom AI chips—all potential future revenue streams.
With a recent valuation of $300 billion and March 2025 metrics showing 20 million subscribers and 600 million monthly users, OpenAI appears positioned for transformative growth if these ambitious projections materialize.