Inside the Courtroom: Elon Musk’s High-Stakes Testimony Against OpenAI

Elon Musk testified for three days in a federal court in Oakland, California, starting April 28, 2026, as part of a high-stakes lawsuit against OpenAI. The legal battle centers on allegations that OpenAI and its chief executive, Sam Altman, betrayed the company’s original altruistic mission to develop artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity.

Musk is seeking billions of dollars in damages and has requested that Altman step down as an officer of OpenAI’s for-profit entity. The lawsuit alleges that Altman deceived Musk into donating $38 million to OpenAI’s nonprofit organization before abandoning its foundational goals.

Courtroom Proceedings and Testimony

Musk took the witness stand on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, and continued his testimony through Thursday, May 1, 2026. His initial statements focused on his personal history, including his origins in South Africa, his previous employment as a lumberjack, and the $100,000 in student loans he held upon graduating from college.

During cross-examination, Musk frequently clashed with OpenAI’s attorney, William Savitt. The proceedings were marked by Musk providing lengthy explanations in response to yes-or-no questions, leading to several interruptions from the court.

The testimony also touched upon Musk’s concerns regarding AI safety, specifically his references to The Terminator. However, the presiding judge limited his ability to discuss these topics during the trial.

Judicial Oversight and Courtroom Management

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers maintained a strict schedule for the proceedings, mandating a start time of 8:30 am and a hard cutoff at 2:00 pm. She required legal counsel to provide precise time estimates for witness examinations and closing statements.

Judge Rogers frequently intervened to keep the testimony focused, instructing Musk to just answer the question when he deviated into tangents. She further prohibited Musk from discussing a hypothetical AI doomsday during the trial.

“You don’t have statements on the law, at least not in this court.” Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers

The exchange occurred on Thursday, May 1, 2026, after Musk interrupted attorney William Savitt’s final question by claiming it was leading. When Musk replied that he had technically taken Law 101, Judge Rogers reminded him that he is not a lawyer.

Presence of Executives and Public Interest

Both Elon Musk and Sam Altman attended the proceedings in person. Altman was present throughout the trial, including during jury selection, which began on Monday, April 27, 2026. Musk arrived on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, accompanied by a larger entourage than the OpenAI chief executive.

The trial drew significant public attention, resulting in long queues at the Oakland federal courthouse. The demand for access exceeded the capacity of the main courtroom, which had only 10 unreserved seats, forcing many observers into an overflow room.

Outside the courthouse, protesters gathered daily. The crowds included individuals wearing robot costumes, some with chains around their necks, and others carrying life-sized cutouts of Musk to protest both the billionaire and the development of AI.

The case is viewed as a critical confrontation in the AI sector, pitting the world’s richest person against a company he once supported. The outcome could potentially force OpenAI to undergo a profound restructuring of its business model.