Archive · 2 Nov 2025
Musk and Altman Clash Over Tesla Refund and OpenAI Accusations
Sam Altman, the boss of OpenAI, said that Elon Musk's car company, Tesla, didn't give him his money back for a special car called a Roadster, even after a long time.
He also said he didn't get a response about canceling his order.
Elon Musk said that Sam was not telling the whole story and that he actually got his money back very quickly, within a day.
Musk then accused Sam of stealing the original idea of OpenAI when it was a charity.
Elon Musk used to help start OpenAI with Sam but they had a big disagreement about how it should be run.
Now, Musk is suing OpenAI because he thinks it's no longer focused on helping everyone and is just trying to make money, especially with help from Microsoft.
OpenAI says they had to become a company to raise enough money to build advanced AI, and they have also accused Musk of trying to harm their reputation.
Elon Musk denied Sam Altman's claim that he did not receive a refund for his Tesla Roadster reservation.
Musk stated Altman was refunded the $50,000 deposit within 24 hours and accused him of not telling the full story.
Altman had publicly stated his 2018 Roadster order and refund request had gone unanswered for 7.5 years.
Musk also accused Altman of 'stealing a non-profit,' referencing OpenAI's shift from a non-profit to a Public Benefit Corporation.
Musk is suing OpenAI, alleging it abandoned its non-profit mission and engaged in trade secret theft, while OpenAI denies these claims and has counter-sued.
- Who
- Elon Musk (Tesla CEO) and Sam Altman (OpenAI CEO)
- What
- A public dispute over a Tesla Roadster refund and accusations regarding OpenAI's non-profit status and alleged trade secret theft.
- When
- Recent public exchange on X (formerly Twitter), with the Tesla order dating back to July 2018.
- Where
- Public statements on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
- Why
- Differing accounts of a past transaction, escalating into broader accusations about OpenAI's origins, mission, and alleged corporate malfeasance.
Sam Altman's Stance
Elon Musk's Stance
Tesla Roadster Refund
Sam Altman's Stance
Claimed Tesla did not cancel his 2018 Roadster reservation and that his refund request for the $50,000 deposit was unanswered for 7.5 years.
Elon Musk's Stance
Stated Altman received a refund within 24 hours, accusing him of not revealing the full sequence of events and implying dishonesty.
OpenAI's Mission and Structure
Sam Altman's Stance
Accused by Musk of 'stealing a non-profit' due to OpenAI's transition from a non-profit to a PBC, which Musk alleges abandons the original mission for profit.
Elon Musk's Stance
Maintains that the transition to a for-profit model was necessary to raise substantial capital for advanced AI development and deployment.
Legal Disputes
Sam Altman's Stance
Has filed multiple lawsuits against OpenAI, alleging the company has become a 'closed-source, maximum-profit company' controlled by Microsoft and accusing it of trade secret theft from his company xAI.
Elon Musk's Stance
Denies Musk's accusations and has counter-sued Musk, claiming he engaged in 'bad-faith tactics' and 'unlawful harassment' to damage OpenAI's reputation.
- Sam Altman's Claim
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman alleged Tesla failed to cancel his 2018 Roadster reservation and refund his $50,000 deposit after 7.5 years.
- Elon Musk's Response
- Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated Altman received a refund within 24 hours and accused Altman of not telling the 'full story' and 'stealing a non-profit'.
- Tesla Roadster Status
- The Roadster, first unveiled in 2017, has faced production delays, with Musk indicating a prototype is nearing demonstration.
- OpenAI's Structure
- OpenAI transitioned from a non-profit to a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), which Musk argues is a deviation from its original mission.
- Ongoing Lawsuits
- Musk has filed lawsuits against OpenAI, alleging it abandoned its non-profit mission and that xAI's trade secrets were targeted.
- OpenAI's Defense
- OpenAI denies Musk's accusations, stating the for-profit transition was necessary for capital and has counter-sued Musk for 'bad-faith tactics'.
