This is how much Walmart spent on Microsoft Azure cloud services

Walmart appears to be spending big on Microsoft Azure, and it’s in millions. Last week’s Build 2025 wasn’t just about developer tools or new AI features. In the middle of the event, Microsoft employees protesting the company’s military deals interrupted a session.

The exec on stage, caught off guard, switched over to Microsoft Teams while still screen-sharing. That’s when an internal message flashed up. It said Walmart was “ready to rock and roll” on Microsoft’s Entra Web and AI Gateway services.

Walmart’s Azure spending? Over half a billion

Today, Business Insider reported seeing a leaked Microsoft document that details Walmart’s spending on Azure cloud services. Per the report, Walmart racked up $580 million on Azure cloud services from June 2023 to May 2024,

The leaked document reportedly breaks down Walmart’s spending on Azure cloud services month by month. Walmart’s cloud bill hovered around $50 million through much of last year, soaring at nearly $62 million in November—probably tied to holiday traffic. By May, it dipped closer to $45 million.

A deeper partnership than we knew

Walmart and Microsoft aren’t new partners, by the way. They signed a strategic cloud partnership back in 2018. But outside of some public AI announcements, like this year’s generative AI shopping search, neither company shares much detail. However, the leaked document has changed that now.

The numbers give a rare look at what Microsoft calls ACR, or Azure Consumed Revenue. It’s how Microsoft tracks real customer usage, whether they’re paying full price or getting discounts as part of a broader deal. Turns out, one of the biggest names in retail is quietly one of Microsoft’s biggest AI customers too.