Elon Musk has issued a direct and public warning to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The tech billionaire posted his message on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Musk stated he "can't wait to start the trial." He expects the legal discovery process and courtroom testimony to reveal shocking information.
Musk Anticipates Dramatic Courtroom Revelations
Musk made his comments in response to another X post. That post suggested Musk has a 57% chance of winning his lawsuit against OpenAI. It referenced new court documents. These documents reportedly show OpenAI's president admitted to wanting to turn the organization into a for-profit entity. "The discovery and testimony will blow your mind," Musk wrote in his reply, amplifying his anticipation for the legal battle.
The Core of the Legal Dispute
Elon Musk co-founded OpenAI. He has now filed a lawsuit against the company and its CEO, Sam Altman. The lawsuit alleges OpenAI committed fraud. Musk claims the company abandoned its original non-profit mission. This shift, according to Musk, represents a fundamental betrayal of the organization's founding principles.
Sam Altman Fires Back with Historical Notes
Sam Altman did not remain silent. The OpenAI CEO responded directly to Musk's claims. Altman shared notes from past calls that Musk referenced in his legal filings. Altman accused Musk of cherry-picking information to make OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman look bad.
Altman explained the full context in his X post. He said Musk was actively pushing for a new corporate structure at OpenAI. Brockman and fellow co-founder Ilya Sutskever spent considerable time trying to accommodate Musk's demands, according to Altman.
Revealing Mars Ambitions and Control Demands
In a separate post, Altman shared more details from the call notes. He recalled a forgotten part of the conversation with Musk. "Elon said he wanted to accumulate $80 billion for a self-sustaining city on Mars," Altman wrote. Musk argued he needed and deserved majority equity in OpenAI to fund this ambition.
Musk also demanded full control of the company. He cited past experiences where a lack of control had negatively impacted him. When discussing future leadership, Musk surprised others by suggesting his children might one day control Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Altman stated that understanding Musk's personal goals provides crucial context for the entire dispute.
The Staggering $134 Billion Damages Claim
In a major development, Elon Musk has formally requested massive financial damages. A recent court filing shows Musk is seeking up to $134 billion from OpenAI and its partner, Microsoft. He filed this damages request on January 16, 2026. The claim reiterates the fraud allegation, stating OpenAI wrongfully deviated from its non-profit charter.
This legal move followed a significant court decision. A federal judge rejected a final attempt by OpenAI and Microsoft to avoid a jury trial. The trial is now scheduled for late April in Oakland, California.
Legal Justification for the Massive Sum
Steven Molo, a lawyer representing Elon Musk, explained the reasoning behind the enormous damages figure. In the court filing, he drew a parallel to startup investing. An early investor in a successful startup can see returns far exceeding the initial investment. Molo argued that the "wrongful gains" earned by OpenAI and Microsoft are proportionally much larger than Musk's original contributions. Therefore, Musk is entitled to seek their disgorgement.
The stage is set for a high-stakes legal confrontation. Two of the most prominent figures in the technology world, Elon Musk and Sam Altman, are preparing for a courtroom battle that could reshape the future of artificial intelligence.
