OpenAI users report mystery windfall of tens of thousands of credits worth ~$2,500

On September 30, several users noticed that OpenAI had deposited tens of thousands of credits into their accounts at once, apparently an accidental giveaway, and OpenAI has so far offered no official explanation.

Confirmed

Multiple users posted screenshots confirming the deposits, with amounts very close but not identical: IterIntellectus and xiaohu each received 62500 credits, imjustnewatai got 62496, and cyruszei found 62393 in a Codex account
At a rate of 25000 credits ≈ 1500 AUD, cyruszei estimated the batch at roughly 3700 AUD (about $2500); ObjectiveRiver5218 also confirmed receiving credits worth about $2500
xiaohu noted the credits were granted on top of the most recent routine quota reset, and urged everyone to check their own accounts
The grants are not limited to one user type — a 20x Pro user (ObjectiveRiver5218) also confirmed receiving credits

Unconfirmed

OpenAI has issued no official statement; the reason and criteria for the grants remain unknown. Community speculation points to a system glitch, compensatory credits, or a promotion, none of it substantiated
The amounts received vary slightly (6239362500), and the reason for the discrepancy is unclear

Why it matters

If this is compensation or a new incentive mechanism, it may signal a shift in OpenAI's strategy for rewarding heavy users; if it is a system error, the credits could be clawed back later. Users holding credits should watch their account activity and any follow-up official statements.

2026-09-30 ~ 2026-09-30 · 6 related posts

Primary sources

User mysteriously receives 62,500 OpenAI credits, thanks Sam Altman — IterIntellectus · 2026-09-30 15:36 (UTC+08:00)
OpenAI quietly hands out extra credits — users report varying amounts, one shows 62,500 — xiaohu · 2026-09-30 15:30 (UTC+08:00)
OpenAI users find ~$2,500 worth of surprise Codex credits after plan change — cyrus_zei · 2026-09-30 14:11 (UTC+08:00)

20x Pro User Confirms the $2,500 Credit Grant With Screenshot — Objective_River_5218 · 2026-09-30
User baffled after OpenAI hands out 62,496 free credits with no explanation — imjustnewatai · 2026-09-30
[source] OpenAI users find ~$2,500 worth of surprise Codex credits after plan change — cyrus_zei · 2026-09-30
[source] OpenAI quietly hands out extra credits — users report varying amounts, one shows 62,500 — xiaohu · 2026-09-30
[source] User mysteriously receives 62,500 OpenAI credits, thanks Sam Altman — IterIntellectus · 2026-09-30

1 near-duplicate retellings: justalexoki