Brockman Testifies on $30 Billion OpenAI Stake in Musk Lawsuit

OpenAI President Greg Brockman testified in federal court on Monday, May 4, 2026, that his stake in the company is worth nearly $30 billion. Brockman, who serves as CEO Sam Altman's top lieutenant and a cofounder, revealed the figure during cross-examination in the ongoing trial over Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI and Altman. He stated that he did not personally invest any money in OpenAI.

The trial, held in Oakland, California, focuses on OpenAI's founding in 2015 as a nonprofit startup primarily funded by Elon Musk and its subsequent shift to a for-profit venture now valued at $852 billion. The civil lawsuit accuses Altman and Brockman of straying from the company's original mission to act as an altruistic steward of artificial intelligence technology.

It alleges they moved into a moneymaking mode behind Musk's back, based in San Francisco.

Two days before the trial began last week, Musk sent a text message to Brockman suggesting that OpenAI settle the suit. Brockman replied by proposing that both sides drop their respective claims. Musk then responded: 'By the end of this week, you and Sam will be the most hated men in America.

OpenAI submitted a new filing on Sunday detailing the text exchange, but Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled it inadmissible as evidence. The filing did not include copies of the texts and primarily argued for their admission in the context of settlement talks. TechCrunch reported the judge's decision from on-site coverage.

Musk's lawsuit seeks to unwind OpenAI's for-profit structure, require its technology to be made available to the public, strip Microsoft's licensing agreement with OpenAI, and obtain general, compensatory, and punitive damages from OpenAI plus legal fees.

OpenAI's countersuit alleges Musk's actions are motivated by demands for money and efforts to hinder a rival, rather than concerns for AI safety. On the third day of the trial, Musk underwent cross-examination in the case he brought against Altman and OpenAI.

BBC News covered the session, noting it as combative. Wired reported that Brockman defended his stake by attributing it to 'blood, sweat, and tears' during his testimony.

“'What will take me to $1B?'”