Nvidia $250B Guarantee for OpenAI Data Center

Nvidia is in talks to provide roughly $250 billion in financing guarantees to help OpenAI lease a 10-gigawatt data center project in southern Ohio, developed by SoftBank Group's energy subsidiary SB Energy. The total project cost is expected to exceed $500 billion, including Nvidia chips. The guarantee would cover lease and debt financing, while Nvidia is also discussing separate financing for OpenAI's chip purchases worth up to $350 billion. The first phase is targeted for completion in 2028 with 800 megawatts of power. The power is controlled by the U.S. government and funded by Japan under a trade deal tied to a $33 billion natural gas plant investment. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is involved in deciding access. The deal would mark OpenAI's first step toward controlling its own infrastructure instead of renting from Microsoft, Amazon, and Oracle, while securing long-term demand for Nvidia's chips. Negotiations are ongoing and could still collapse. The report also highlights Nvidia's broader strategy of investing in AI infrastructure, including a $1 billion investment in Naver Corp. and a partnership with SK Group for data centers in South Korea.