Hidden debt at Big Tech climbs eightfold to $1.65 trillion on AI spending

A Nikkei study reported by Sina Finance said off-balance-sheet obligations at Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Oracle now exceed their recorded debt, with Meta alone at about $420 billion.

Summary

Off-balance-sheet obligations at Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Oracle climbed eightfold in four years to an estimated $1.65 trillion as investment tied to AI accelerated, a Nikkei study reported by Sina Finance said. The total was reported to be larger than the companies’ on-balance-sheet debt, underscoring how financing linked to long-term commitments can build outside standard borrowings. Meta’s off-balance-sheet debt was about $420 billion, nearly three times its recorded debt, according to the report.

Terms & Concepts
  • Off-balance-sheet obligations: Liabilities or commitments not recorded as standard balance-sheet debt
  • On-balance-sheet debt: Borrowings formally recorded on a company’s balance sheet
  • AI: Artificial intelligence systems that perform tasks using data and algorithms