Nvidia Has Poured $40 Billion Into AI Equity Deals So Far This Year

Nvidia is continuing its aggressive push into AI investing, having committed over $40 billion to equity stakes in AI companies through the first few months of 2026, according to CNBC. The bulk of that figure comes from a single massive bet: a $30 billion investment in OpenAI. But the chipmaker has also announced several multi-billion dollar positions in publicly traded firms, including a $3. 2 billion deal with glass manufacturer Corning and a $2.

1 billion investment in data center operator IREN. In addition, Nvidia participated in roughly two dozen funding rounds for private startups this year, following 67 venture deals in 2025, per FactSet data. Critics argue these investments often flow to Nvidia's own customers, creating a circular dynamic where money moves between the same players. Wedbush Securities analyst Matthew Bryson acknowledges the pattern, calling it "squarely into the circular investment theme," but notes that if these bets pay off, they could help Nvidia build a formidable "competitive moat" around its AI ecosystem.

Source: TechCrunch