Nvidia and OpenAI in talks for up to $250 billion backstop to fund AI infrastructure plans

Skip NavigationMarketsPre-MarketsU.S. MarketsEurope MarketsChina MarketsAsia MarketsWorld MarketsCurrenciesPrediction MarketsCryptocurrencyFutures & CommoditiesBondsFunds & ETFsBusinessEconomyFinanceHealth & ScienceMediaReal EstateEnergyClimateTransportationInvestigationsIndustrialsRetailWealthSportsLifeSmall BusinessInvestingPersonal FinanceFintechFinancial AdvisorsOptions ActionETF StreetBuffett ArchiveEarningsTrader TalkTechCybersecurityAIEnterpriseInternetMediaMobileSocial MediaCNBC Disruptor 50Tech GuidePoliticsWhite HousePolicyDefenseCongressExpanding OpportunityEurope PoliticsChina PoliticsAsia PoliticsWorld PoliticsVideoLatest VideoFull EpisodesLivestreamTop VideoLive AudioEurope TVAsia TVCNBC PodcastsCEO InterviewsDigital OriginalsWatchlistInvesting ClubTrust PortfolioAnalysisTrade AlertsMeeting VideosHomestretchJim's ColumnsEducationSubscribePROPro NewsJosh BrownMike SantoliCalls of the DayMy PortfolioLivestreamFull EpisodesStock ScreenerMarket ForecastOptions InvestingChart InvestingSubscribeLivestreamMenuMake ItselectUSAINTLLivestreamSearch quotes, news & videosLivestreamWatchlistSIGN INCreate free accountMarketsBusinessInvestingTechPoliticsVideoWatchlistInvesting ClubPROLivestreamMenu (function() { const userMembershipOnLastVisit = localStorage.getItem("cnbcMeta__cachedUserMembership"); if (!userMembershipOnLastVisit) { // If no user membership is stored, user is likely not logged in. // These users will typically see the banner. return; } const { isPro, isInvestingClubUser } = JSON.parse(userMembershipOnLastVisit); if (!(isPro || isInvestingClubUser)) { // We’re rendering the top banner for users who are not pro or investing club members. return; } // Hide the banner for pro and investing club users. const style = document.createElement("style"); style.id = "top-banner-placeholder-style"; style.innerHTML = "[data-top-banner-placeholder] { display: none; }"; document.head.appendChild(style); })() TechNvidia and OpenAI in talks for up to $250 billion backstop to fund AI infrastructure plansPublished Mon, Jul 27 20261:32 PM EDTUpdated Mon, Jul 27 20265:29 PM EDTAshley Capoot@/in/ashley-capoot/Kate Rooney@Kr00neyWATCH LIVEKey PointsOpenAI is in discussions with Nvidia about a backstop of up to $250 billion that would help fund its plans to lease a new AI data center, CNBC has confirmed. The backstop would let OpenAI raise debt for a 10-gigawatt data center campus in Pike County, Ohio, on the strength of Nvidia's credit, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.The talks about the site and its financing are in progress and still subject to change, sources said. In this articleNVDAFollow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNTOpenAI CEO Sam Altman walks through the Hart Senate Office Building following meetings on Capitol Hill, in Washington, June 3, 2026.Evelyn Hockstein | ReutersOpenAI is in discussions with Nvidia about a backstop of up to $250 billion that would help fund its ambitious plans to lease a massive new artificial intelligence data center, CNBC confirmed. The backstop would let OpenAI raise debt for a 10-gigawatt data center campus in Pike County, Ohio, on the strength of Nvidia's credit, according to a person familiar with the discussions who asked not to be named because the details are confidential. The guarantee would cover the lease and construction debt, not the Nvidia chips inside, which the two companies are discussing separately, the person said.Nvidia declined to comment. The Wall Street Journal was first to report the negotiations about the $250 billion backstop. The large site in Ohio once functioned as a uranium-enrichment plant, the person said. A gigawatt is a measure of power, and 10 gigawatts is roughly equivalent to the annual power consumption of 8