Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Oracle 'are hiding an estimated $1.65 trillion in debt', drawing comparison with the historic Enron debacle

https://www.techradar.com/author/efosa-udinmwen· Jul 29, 2026 · 10:45 PM UTC ·10 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 1 view

#technology #finance #debt #ai #corporate-governance

Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Oracle 'are hiding an estimated $1.65 trillion in debt', drawing comparison with the historic Enron debacle

TL;DR · WeSearch summary

An investigation alleges that Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Oracle are concealing approximately $1.65 trillion in off‑balance‑sheet liabilities, surpassing the $1.35 trillion they reported publicly. The report highlights the use of special purpose vehicles to keep debt hidden, drawing parallels to the Enron scandal. While the accounting practices are legal, critics argue they obscure the true financial exposure for investors.

Key facts

▪The five companies are reported to have $1.65 trillion in hidden liabilities, exceeding their disclosed $1.35 trillion by $300 billion.
▪Meta alone is said to hold about $420 billion of off‑balance‑sheet debt.
▪Analysts compare the situation to Enron, noting the reliance on separate subsidiaries to keep debt off the books.
▪Critics say the structure makes it difficult for investors to accurately assess overall financial risk despite being legal.

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Original publisher	TechRadar
Canonical URL	https://www.techradar.com/pro/alphabet-microsoft-amazon-meta-and-oracle-are-hiding-an-estimated-usd1-65-trillion-in-debt-drawing-comparison-with-the-historic-enron-debacle
Publication time	Wed, 29 Jul 2026 22:45:00 +0000
Retrieval time	2026-07-29T22:48:01.633Z
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Pro Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Oracle 'are hiding an estimated $1.65 trillion in debt', drawing comparison with the historic Enron debacle News By Efosa Udinmwen Published 29 July 2026 Wall Street watches nervously as hidden AI debts fuel fresh fears When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Shutterstock) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Hidden AI debts are attracting fresh scrutiny across America's biggest technology companiesMassive data centre spending is testing investor confidence like never beforeMeta reportedly carries the…

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