Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman: The OpenAI Takeover Battle

Elon Musk has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, but the latest events have taken their rivalry to a new level. Musk reportedly made a $97 billion bid to acquire OpenAI, but Altman outright rejected the proposal multiple times. Additionally, OpenAI has filed a federal court letter stating that Musk's move contradicts his own lawsuit against the company. Let’s break down the key developments in five points.
Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman OpenAI Takeover

1. Elon Musk’s $97 Billion Offer to Buy OpenAI

Musk, alongside a group of investors, reportedly made an official bid to purchase OpenAI for $97 billion. According to The Wall Street Journal, Musk wants to shift OpenAI back to its nonprofit roots. His attorney, Marc Toberoff, emphasized that if OpenAI intends to become a for-profit entity, its original charitable mission should be compensated fairly.

2. Sam Altman’s First Response: Sarcasm and Rejection

Sam Altman wasted no time in rejecting Musk's offer. On February 11, he responded on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "No thanks, but we'd be willing to buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you're interested." This sarcastic remark underscored his dismissive attitude towards Musk’s bid.

3. Altman Calls the Move a Disruptive Tactic

Speaking at the Paris AI Summit 2025, Altman ridiculed Musk’s takeover attempt, stating, "The company is not for sale. Elon tries all sorts of things for a long time. This is, you know, this week's episode." He accused Musk of trying to slow down OpenAI rather than competing by building a superior product. When asked about Musk's motives, Altman responded, "Probably his whole life is from a position of insecurity. I feel for the guy. I don't think he is like a happy person."

4. OpenAI’s Legal Pushback

OpenAI has filed a letter in federal court stating that Musk's acquisition attempt contradicts his own lawsuit against the company. Musk has sued OpenAI twice—first in July 2024 and again in August 2024—alleging that the company prioritizes commercial interests over its founding mission. The second lawsuit even accused OpenAI of recklessly pursuing artificial general intelligence (AGI) for profit and engaging in racketeering.

5. The Bigger Picture: Musk vs. OpenAI

Musk has repeatedly criticized OpenAI for shifting away from its nonprofit vision. His lawsuit argues that OpenAI should operate under a charitable trust, but OpenAI countered by stating that Musk’s takeover attempt proves he is motivated by financial gain. As the legal battle intensifies, the question remains: Is Musk genuinely concerned about AI ethics, or is he looking to take control of OpenAI to advance his own ventures like xAI? The rivalry between these tech giants shows no signs of slowing down.

This article is based on factual information, it is recommended to check any required information.
Image Source: India Today via MSN.

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