Musk helped found OpenAI in 2015 and left its board in 2018. He later sued, saying Altman and OpenAI broke a promise to stay a nonprofit for the public good when they built a for-profit business with Microsoft. OpenAI said Musk had wanted control and only objected once he was out. [6][1]
In February 2025, a Musk-led group offered $97.4 billion to buy control of OpenAI’s assets; the board rejected it. [5]
On 18 May 2026, after a three-week trial, the jury unanimously found his claims were filed too late, deliberating less than two hours. The judge adopted the finding on 20 May. Musk said he would appeal. [1][2][3]
Legal analysts noted that the core claims, whether OpenAI betrayed its founding mission, were never tested. [4]
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