Elon Musk has escalated his criticism of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. In a recent statement on X, Musk labeled Altman as ‘scam altman’ and accused him, along with OpenAI president Greg Brockman, whom Musk mistakenly referred to as ‘Greg Stockman’, of misappropriating funds from a charity. Musk and Altman are currently locked in a legal dispute concerning the establishment of OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. Musk’s remarks were prompted by an earlier statement from OpenAI refuting the allegations and attributing the lawsuit to envy aimed at sabotaging a competitor, with OpenAI asserting its intention to present its case in court.
The civil trial involving Musk and Altman commenced on April 27, 2026, in a federal courthouse in Oakland, California, and is anticipated to last a minimum of three to four weeks.
OpenAI’s response on X expressed eagerness to present their argument in court, emphasizing the purported unfounded nature of the lawsuit, branding it as an envious attempt to obstruct a competitor. The statement also hinted at the opportunity to question Musk under oath before a California jury regarding his alleged efforts to undermine OpenAI’s mission of ensuring the benefits of artificial general intelligence for all of humanity.
Musk’s post featured scathing accusations against OpenAI executives, alleging that Altman and Brockman profited from OpenAI’s shift from a nonprofit organization to a for-profit public benefit corporation. Musk’s claims have reignited interest in the ongoing lawsuit, where he accuses Altman and Brockman of betraying him and transforming OpenAI into a profit-oriented entity that deviates from its original charitable purpose, which was primarily funded by Musk.
According to Musk, Altman and Brockman exploited the transition, with Brockman allegedly receiving billions in stock and Altman reportedly engaging in undisclosed arrangements to secure personal gains. Musk’s post bluntly stated, “Scam Altman and Greg Stockman stole a charity. Full stop. Greg got tens of billions of stock for himself and Scam got dozens of OpenAI side deals with a piece of the action for himself, Y Combinator style. After this lawsuit, Scam will also be awarded tens of billions in stock directly.”
Additionally, Musk voiced concerns about the broader repercussions of such actions, warning that allowing a nonprofit to evolve into a profit-driven entity could establish a harmful legal precedent in the United States, potentially eroding trust in charitable organizations. Musk reiterated that OpenAI was originally established as a nonprofit to serve the public good and lamented the perceived shift towards profit-making, emphasizing his pivotal role in the company’s early stages.
The upcoming trial will delve into OpenAI’s organizational structure, financial backing, and collaborations, including its ties with Microsoft, with potential implications for the distribution of power in the field of artificial intelligence, a technology that raises concerns about job displacement and existential risks.
Musk’s demands include compensation for alleged misuse of his name and resources to advance a profit-centric venture, urging OpenAI to revert to its nonprofit status and calling for the removal of Altman and Brockman from leadership positions. OpenAI has rebuffed Musk’s assertions, dismissing them as unfounded and driven by competitive motives aimed at impeding its progress while promoting Musk’s own company, xAI, established in 2023.