Court filings reveal that Elon Musk quietly tried to form a $97.4 billion consortium to acquire OpenAI—and even approached Mark Zuckerberg for help. Social media is ablaze with reactions as details emerge from the legal battle between Musk and Sam Altman.
Court documents unmask a takeover attempt
In a stunning twist in the ongoing feud between Elon Musk and Sam Altman, newly unsealed court documents show that Musk attempted to orchestrate a $97.4 billion takeover of OpenAI earlier this year. Musk’s plan involved raising capital through his own AI venture, xAI, and inviting outside investors to contribute. Among those approached was none other than Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. According to filings reviewed by the Indian Express, OpenAI’s lawyers allege that Musk sent Zuckerberg a letter of intent seeking financing for the bid; however, Meta declined to participate.
The revelation comes from Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI, in which he accuses the company of abandoning its non‑profit mission. OpenAI’s response paints a different picture, asserting that Musk himself sought to convert OpenAI into a for‑profit venture years ago. The filings include emails and documents showing that xAI asked several investors to finance the takeover and that Musk’s team drafted a letter of intent for Zuckerberg to sign. Although neither Zuckerberg nor Meta’s board endorsed the plan, the overture underscores the high stakes of the AI arms race.
A bitter rivalry goes public
This saga adds fuel to the long‑simmering rivalry between Musk and Altman. Once allies—Musk co‑founded OpenAI in 2015 before departing two years later—the two have traded barbs ever since OpenAI’s ChatGPT catapulted to fame. Musk has accused OpenAI of prioritizing profits over safety, while Altman counters that Musk’s own xAI is a direct competitor. The lawsuit alleges that Altman and OpenAI’s board “conspired” to convert the non‑profit into a capped‑profit entity, a move Musk claims breaches the original charter. In their filings, OpenAI lawyers argue that Musk’s lawsuit is a “self‑serving attempt” to gain control of the company and that he attempted to buy it outright when he couldn’t sway its direction.
The filings also reveal that OpenAI’s attorneys are demanding documents from Meta related to the attempted takeover, including any communications between Zuckerberg and xAI. Meta’s legal team responded that the requests are overly broad and should be directed at Musk and xAI. The court will decide whether Meta must hand over the documents. Meanwhile, Musk continues to criticize OpenAI’s governance, tweeting memes comparing Altman to a puppet master and calling ChatGPT “woke slop.”
How social media reacted
News of Musk’s secret bid blew up on X (formerly Twitter), where hashtags like #OpenAIBid and #MuskVsAltman trended for hours. Users posted memes of billionaires fighting and speculated about what would happen if Musk controlled the world’s most famous AI company. On Reddit, threads debating the ethics of such a takeover shot to the top of r/technology, with commenters asking whether the consolidation of AI power would harm innovation. Some joked that Musk wanted to acquire OpenAI to get a discount on ChatGPT Plus.
Analysts point out that the failed bid highlights the growing commercialization of AI research. With valuations soaring—OpenAI is reportedly exploring a $500 billion share sale—billionaires and tech giants are jockeying for control. Musk’s overture to Zuckerberg, who has his own AI ambitions at Meta, underscores how consolidation could reshape the industry. If two of the world’s richest men had joined forces, they might have cornered a significant portion of generative AI talent.
Fallout and what’s next
It’s unclear how the court will rule on Musk’s lawsuit, but the revelations have already damaged relationships. Some employees at OpenAI are reportedly angered by the prospect of being pawns in a billionaire power play. Others see the spectacle as a distraction from real issues like safety and alignment. Regardless, the drama highlights how AI’s biggest players are willing to spend astronomical sums to control foundational models.
For more context on Musk’s AI ventures, read our piece on Self‑hosted Grok? Airi GitHub repo lets you run Elon Musk’s chatbot locally, which covers another open‑source project that has sparked Musk‑related controversy.
FAQs
Q1: Did Elon Musk really try to buy OpenAI for $97 billion?
A1: Yes. Court filings in Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI reveal that he attempted to form a consortium led by xAI to acquire OpenAI for $97.4 billion and approached investors—including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg—for financing.
Q2: Did Mark Zuckerberg agree to help Musk?
A2: No. The filings indicate that Zuckerberg received a letter of intent but did not sign or commit to the plan.
Q3: Why is Musk suing OpenAI?
A3: Musk alleges that OpenAI violated its non‑profit charter by creating a for‑profit entity and prioritizing commercial interests. He seeks to regain influence over the organization.
Q4: What does OpenAI say in response?
A4: OpenAI counters that Musk previously supported converting the organization to a for‑profit structure and claims that his lawsuit is an attempt to gain control after his takeover bid failed.
Q5: What are the broader implications of this story?
A5: The attempted takeover underscores how valuable AI companies have become. It also raises questions about consolidation, competition and the role of ethics in a field dominated by billionaires.
