Musk Seeks $150 Billion Settlement from OpenAI Before Trial, Settlement Talks Fail

According to a court filing, Elon Musk reached out to OpenAI President Greg Brockman on April 26, two days before their trial began in Oakland federal court, to explore a settlement. When Brockman suggested both parties drop their claims, Musk responded with threats, telling Brockman: “By the end of this week, you and Sam will be the most hated men in America. If you insist, so it will be.”

The trial, which started on April 28, centers on Musk’s claim that OpenAI betrayed its original nonprofit mission by transitioning to a for-profit model in 2019. Musk is seeking $150 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, and demanding changes to OpenAI’s leadership structure. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers is overseeing the case, which is expected to last several weeks.