Elon Musk‘s feud with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reached an all-time high. The SpaceX founder is seeking to have Altman removed from his role in new court filings. Musk sued Altman and OpenAI in 2024, alleging that the company “deceived” him into donating millions by promising it would operate as a nonprofit.
Elon Musk seeks removal of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in new filings
In new court filings on April 7, Elon Musk‘s lawyers have stated that their client seeks the removal of both OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman from their respective roles. The case may go to trial later this month (via CNBC). They have sought the removal in case a judge and jury find that Altman and OpenAI defrauded Musk.
Musk’s lawyers said, “Plaintiff will seek an order removing Altman as a director from the OpenAI nonprofit board and removing both Altman and Brockman as officers of the OpenAI for-profit. Removal of a charity’s officers and directors is a common remedy where those individuals fail to protect or carry out the charity’s public mission.”
Musk has claimed that he helped start OpenAI nearly a decade ago and donated $38 million. Per the filings, he has also asked the court to return OpenAI to nonprofit status. Having completed a restructuring last October, the company currently has only a 26% stake in the for-profit arm. The profitable arm also includes ChatGPT.
Jury selection will reportedly begin on April 27 in a federal court in Oakland, California. OpenAI publicly responded to Tuesday’s filings in an X (formerly Twitter) post. The company claimed that Musk is “pretending to change his tune about attacking the nonprofit OpenAI Foundation.”
They further wrote, “The truth is that this case has always been about Elon generating more power and more money for what he wants. His lawsuit remains nothing more than a harassment campaign that’s driven by ego, jealousy and a desire to slow down a competitor.”
Originally reported by Ankita Shaw on Mandatory.
