Broadcom is in discussions to secure a massive loan package of $70 billion to $80 billion to fund chip deals for AI firms like Anthropic, according to CNBC's David Faber, who confirmed the report Thursday morning.
Bloomberg was first to report the story on Thursday, with sources indicating the total package could eventually climb to $100 billion. Private equity firms Blackstone and Apollo/) Global Management are among the investors considering participation.
The senior portion of the financing, which takes priority for repayment, is projected at roughly $45 billion. The subordinate tier would add another $35 billion or so, though these figures remain flexible, according to sources.
Semiconductor companies are pursuing unprecedented amounts of capital to support the AI infrastructure boom and keep pace with surging demand for new models and computing workloads. Broadcom unveiled an AI platform in June designed to deliver 20 gigawatts of computing power for both Anthropic and OpenAI.
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The initial $35 billion financing round was spearheaded by Blackstone and Apollo. Broadcom now wants to dramatically expand that figure.
Other industry players are pursuing similar strategies. Nvidia announced this week that it would supply up to $105 billion to fund a new OpenAI data center in Ohio, as detailed in a securities filing. Additionally, Nvidia announced a partnership with six large investment firms to create a $500 billion funding initiative focused on making computing infrastructure an investable asset class.
Broadcom's stock gained just over 1% on Friday in response to the report.
This deal signals just how serious the AI infrastructure race has become. Companies are no longer relying solely on their own cash reserves. They are taking on significant debt to ensure computing capacity exists before competitors get there first.
That competitive urgency typically benefits chip and infrastructure suppliers. It also shows that major players are making enormous bets on future AI demand.
The risk comes from leverage. When companies take on debt at this scale, even minor setbacks can escalate quickly. A missed earnings number or a delayed product launch could put pressure on heavily indebted balance sheets.
Broadcom's modest 1% stock gain on Friday suggests investors are paying attention but remaining cautious. Large loans can build empires, but they can also bring them down.
For now, capital continues to pour into AI, and the companies building this infrastructure seem willing to pay nearly any price to stay ahead. Whether those bets will pay off remains uncertain and will take years to determine. But the magnitude of these wagers is becoming increasingly hard to overlook.
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