How much is the off-balance-sheet debt?

It amounts to $1.65 trillion, according to the Nikkei Asia study.

What is the total debt including on-balance-sheet?

Total debt is approximately $3 trillion, with $1.35 trillion officially reported.

Why are these debts concerning?

Because they hide the true risks of AI investments from investors, potentially leading to inaccurate risk assessment.

Big Tech's Hidden AI Debt Tops $1.65 Trillion, Study Finds

A Nikkei Asia study found that five major tech companies have $1.65 trillion in off-balance-sheet debt, bringing total obligations to around $3 trillion. Tech critic Ed Zitron called it a 'corporate scandal' that should spark a shareholder riot.

By: Wrqti Editorial

July 23, 2026

2 min read

Source: Benzinga

Key Numbers

off balance sheet debt

$1.65 trillion

reported debt

$1.35 trillion

total obligations

$3 trillion

A study by Nikkei Asia has revealed that five major technology companies hold $1.65 trillion in off-balance-sheet debt, according to a report by Benzinga. The companies are Meta (META), Oracle (ORCL), Alphabet (GOOGL), Microsoft (MSFT), and Amazon (AMZN).

Details

The study indicates that these hidden debts, largely tied to artificial intelligence investments, bring the total obligations of the five firms to approximately $3 trillion, compared to only $1.35 trillion reported on their balance sheets. This means more than half of their debt is invisible to investors.

Context

Prominent tech critic Ed Zitron strongly criticized the situation, calling it a "corporate scandal" that "should be a shareholder riot." He noted that these practices hide the real risks companies are taking in the race to dominate AI.

What This Means for Investors

The hidden debts raise questions about the financial transparency of Big Tech and may prompt investors to reassess the risks associated with their holdings in these stocks. It could also increase pressure on regulators to require more detailed disclosures of off-balance-sheet obligations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The companies are Meta (META), Oracle (ORCL), Alphabet (GOOGL), Microsoft (MSFT), and Amazon (AMZN).

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This article was rewritten in Wrqti's editorial style based on information from the original source above. Content is informational only — not investment advice.