Musk kicks off explosive OpenAI trial by slamming Altman, company for abandoning non-profit mission: ‘Not OK to steal a charity’
Elon Musk testified in a high-profile trial against OpenAI, accusing CEO Sam Altman and the company of abandoning its nonprofit roots to pursue massive profits. He argued that OpenAI's shift to a for-profit model betrayed its original mission and could set a dangerous precedent for charitable organizations. Musk claimed the case has broad implications for the integrity of charitable giving in the United States.
- ▪Elon Musk testified that OpenAI was founded as a nonprofit to ensure AI development benefited humanity, not corporate profits.
- ▪Musk accused Sam Altman and Greg Brockman of improperly transforming OpenAI into a for-profit entity, calling it a 'theft' of a charity.
- ▪OpenAI's legal team argued Musk only pursued legal action after launching his competing AI venture, xAI, portraying the lawsuit as self-serving.
- ▪Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers emphasized that Musk's courtroom statements were opinions, not legal facts, and urged both sides to avoid inflaming the case on social media.
- ▪Musk is seeking $180 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, pledging to donate any winnings back to OpenAI's charitable mission.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Business Musk kicks off explosive OpenAI trial by slamming Altman, company for abandoning non-profit mission: ‘Not OK to steal a charity’ By Marc Vartabedian Published April 28, 2026, 6:05 p.m. ET Elon Musk took the stand as the high-profile trial over the future of OpenAI kicked off on Tuesday — claiming that CEO Sam Altman took control of a group founded as a “charity” and improperly morphed it into a money-minting corporate juggernaut. “They’re going to make this case seem complicated but it’s actually very simple,” Musk told a packed federal courtroom in Oakland, Calif. early Tuesday afternoon, looking relaxed in a black suit and tie. “It’s not ok to steal a charity — that’s my view,” said Musk. “This case will become case law and become precedent to looting every charity in America.
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