Court Filing Reveals Musk's Pre-Trial Settlement Outreach to OpenAI
Elon Musk contacted OpenAI President Greg Brockman to explore a settlement two days before their trial began in Oakland federal court, according to a new court filing made on Sunday. Brockman suggested both sides drop their claims, leading Musk to state that he and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman would become the most hated men in America.
Tesla Owners Club Belgium / Wikimedia (CC BY 2.0)Elon Musk contacted OpenAI President Greg Brockman to gauge interest in a settlement two days before the trial began, according to a new court filing made on Sunday. When Brockman suggested both sides drop their claims, Musk said, 'By the end of this week, you and Sam [Altman] will be the most hated men in America. The trial got underway in Oakland federal court.
Cnbc reported that Musk is suing OpenAI, alleging that its shift from a nonprofit to a for-profit structure betrayed its original nonprofit mission to develop safe AI technology for the public good. Musk testified on Thursday that he did not read the fine print of a 2017 term sheet related to OpenAI's shift from a nonprofit to a for-profit structure, only its headline.
The lawsuit states that OpenAI's leaders profited from Musk's charitable contributions.
Musk is seeking changes to OpenAI's leadership and $150 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, one of its largest investors. S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, began on April 28.
The trial is expected to last several weeks, with a verdict possible by mid-May. Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, and Microsoft chief Satya Nadella are expected to testify later this month. Musk, his lawyer, and OpenAI did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
5 events- 2026-05-03
Court filing made on Sunday detailing Musk's contact with Brockman and the settlement exchange.
3 sourcesCnbc · finance.yahoo.com · economictimes.indiatimes.com - 2026-04-26
Elon Musk contacted OpenAI President Greg Brockman to gauge interest in a settlement, two days before the trial began.
4 sourcesCnbc · finance.yahoo.com · economictimes.indiatimes.com · initial source - 2026-05-02
Elon Musk testified on Thursday that he did not read the fine print of a 2017 term sheet, only its headline.
4 sourcesCnbc · finance.yahoo.com · economictimes.indiatimes.com · initial source - 2026-04-28
The trial before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, began.
4 sourcesCnbc · finance.yahoo.com · economictimes.indiatimes.com · initial source - 2017
Term sheet related to OpenAI's shift from a nonprofit to a for-profit structure.
4 sourcesCnbc · finance.yahoo.com · economictimes.indiatimes.com · initial source
Potential Impact
- 01
Potential escalation in legal tensions between Musk and OpenAI leadership if no settlement is reached.
- 02
Broader scrutiny on AI industry shifts from nonprofit to for-profit models.
- 03
Possible influence on OpenAI's governance and investor relations, given demands for leadership changes.
- 04
Market effects on Microsoft stock due to involvement in the $150 billion damages claim.
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