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Tue, Jul 21, 2026 · 24 stories · Confirmed · Subscribe
TechMarkets

Five US Tech Giants' Hidden AI Debt Hits $1.65 Trillion

The hidden debt grew eightfold in about four years, making each firm's real risk harder for investors to gauge.

  • Meta alone owes near $420 billion this way, nearly triple its reported debt.
  • Oracle ranks among the five, its AI buildout financed through the same channels.
  • Data center leases and GPU supply contracts, not conventional loans, carry the obligations off books.

Why it matters: Debt that never appears on a balance sheet is still owed; only the risk grows invisible.

Nikkei Asia (Nikkei study) ↗ · Jul 21, 20267/21/26 · ✓ Checked✓ Check