Elon Musk Demands Up to $134 Billion From OpenAI, Microsoft in Explosive AI Lawsuit

Elon Musk is seeking damages ranging from $79 billion to $134 billion from OpenAI and Microsoft, claiming he was defrauded when the companies shifted from a nonprofit to a for-profit structure. The lawsuit, filed in 2024, stems from Musk’s initial $38 million investment in OpenAI in 2015, when he was a co-founder. He argues he is entitled to a share of OpenAI’s current $500 billion valuation. A US federal judge recently rejected attempts by OpenAI and Microsoft to avoid a jury trial, scheduled for late April in Oakland, California.

Musk’s legal team, led by Steven Molo, contends that the alleged wrongful gains by OpenAI and Microsoft far exceed his original investment and should be returned to him. Financial economist C. Paul Wazzan estimates OpenAI gained $65.5 to $109.4 billion wrongfully, and Microsoft $13.3 to $25.1 billion. OpenAI and Microsoft strongly dispute these figures and the methodology used, calling them “unprecedented, unverifiable and implausible.”

OpenAI has characterized the lawsuit as “baseless” and part of a pattern of harassment, warning investors that Musk may continue to make public claims as the case progresses. CEO Sam Altman has previously accused Musk of attempting to use the legal system to hinder a competitor. The companies have also requested the court block Wazzan from presenting his conclusions at trial, arguing Musk is seeking an exorbitant return on his initial investment.

(Source：Times Now News)