Elon Musk Seeks $79 to $134 Billion in OpenAI Lawsuit
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Elon Musk is seeking between $79 billion and $134 billion in damages from OpenAI,teh artificial intelligence company he co-founded with Sam Altman,according to recent court filings. The lawsuit, initially filed in march 2024, centers on Musk’s claim that OpenAI has abandoned its original nonprofit mission to prioritize commercial interests.
The Core of the Dispute
Musk alleges that OpenAI, now structured as a capped-profit company, has violated its founding agreement by prioritizing profit over the safe and beneficial advancement of artificial general intelligence (AGI). He argues that this shift poses a significant risk to humanity.
Financial Demands Explained
The $79 billion to $134 billion figure represents the value of the shares Musk claims he would have received had OpenAI remained a non-profit entity, as originally intended. Bloomberg reported on the filing, detailing the calculation of thes damages. The Indonesian Rupiah equivalent of this amount ranges from Rp 1.336 trillion to Rp 2.267 trillion, based on current exchange rates.
Musk’s Role in OpenAI’s Founding
Musk was a key early investor and co-founder of OpenAI in December 2015,contributing $100 million to the project. He stepped down from the board in 2018, citing potential conflicts of interest with his work at Tesla, which also focuses on artificial intelligence. However, he has remained critical of OpenAI’s direction since then.
OpenAI’s Response
OpenAI has not yet publicly commented on the specific damage amount sought by Musk.though, the company has previously defended its current structure, arguing that it is indeed necessary to attract the capital needed to develop and deploy AGI safely and responsibly.
current Status of the Lawsuit
The case is ongoing in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. No trial date has been set as of January 19, 2026. Further details regarding the lawsuit can be found in court documents filed with the court.
