Musk Declares OpenAI Betrayal: Altman ‘Stole Charity’

Elon Musk accuses OpenAI’s Sam Altman of stealing a charity he funded with $38 million, betraying a sacred nonprofit mission for humanity into a $852 billion profit machine.[1][4]

Story Highlights

Musk testifies Altman violated founding promises by shifting OpenAI from nonprofit AI safety mission to for-profit entity backed by $10 billion Microsoft deal.[1][4]
Witnesses expose Altman’s pattern of lying, including false claims on AI safety reviews and misrepresentations to employees.[4]
Greg Brockman’s diary reveals personal quest for $1 billion wealth, now at $30 billion, with no major donations back to nonprofit.[4]
OpenAI defends no eternal nonprofit pledge existed; claims Musk sought control and now boosts rival xAI.[1][3]
Trial in Oakland federal court spotlights AI dangers, with Musk warning of Terminator-like risks over Star Trek benefits.[4]

Musk’s Explosive Testimony on Betrayed Charity

Elon Musk testified Wednesday in Oakland’s federal courthouse that he invested $38 million in OpenAI from December 2015 to May 2017, believing it would remain a nonprofit dedicated to safe artificial intelligence for humanity’s benefit.[1] He recounted losing confidence in Sam Altman by late 2022, accusing OpenAI leaders of trying to “steal the charity.” Musk stated on the stand, “It turned out to be true,” while wearing a black suit and tie.[1] Altman attended but did not testify that day. The trial, underway since Monday, projects three weeks total.[1]

Musk detailed his pivotal role, claiming he invented the OpenAI name, recruited key talent, and provided initial funding for a mission prioritizing safety over profit.[4] He criticized OpenAI’s for-profit pivot and $10 billion Microsoft investment as evidence of betrayal, arguing such sums could not be charitable and aimed to capture AI for corporate gain.[1] Musk seeks Altman’s and Greg Brockman’s removal as CEO and president.[1]

Damning Witness Accounts Undermine Altman

Mira Murati, former OpenAI Chief Technology Officer, testified about Altman’s “issues with lying and with misrepresenting things to his employees and to the public” during 2023 board discussions to oust him.[4] McCauley revealed Altman dishonestly claimed OpenAI’s legal department approved skipping internal safety board review for GPT4-Turbo’s India launch.[4] Shivon Zilis, former board member and early employee, faced accusations of relaying inside information to Musk after his departure, amid claims of no recent romantic ties.[4]

Greg Brockman’s personal diary, spanning over a decade, surfaced in court, exposing internal debates on the nonprofit-to-for-profit shift and his ambition: “What will it take for me to get to $1 billion?”[4] Musk’s team cross-examined Brockman, now worth $30 billion, on failing to donate $29 billion back to the nonprofit.[4] These revelations paint OpenAI leadership as prioritizing personal enrichment over the original charitable mission.[4]

OpenAI’s Defense and Broader AI Stakes

OpenAI lawyers reject Musk’s allegations, insisting no promises existed to keep the company nonprofit forever.[1] They portray Musk’s $150 billion lawsuit as sour grapes to hinder OpenAI’s $852 billion valuation and aid his 2023 competitor xAI.[1] OpenAI claims Musk himself pushed for profits before leaving in 2018 due to lacking control.[3] Court documents show Musk emailed Brockman two days pre-trial with a settlement offer, threatening upon refusal: “By the end of the week, you and Sam will be the most hated men in America.”[2]

Sam Altman arrives at federal court in Oakland, California, where he is expected to testify in the high-stakes lawsuit brought by Elon Musk against OpenAI.

Musk alleges Altman and OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman abandoned the company’s original nonprofit mission after receiving… pic.twitter.com/fzVU0EUcWu

— APT News (@APT__News) May 12, 2026

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers barred sidetracks into general AI risks like workforce disruption or superhuman AI threats, focusing on contract breach claims.[3] Yet testimony highlights Musk’s fears of uncontrolled AI endangering humanity, contrasting Star Trek optimism with Terminator peril.[4] Sam Altman is scheduled to testify next week, alongside Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, with full depositions and internal documents pending.[4] This clash tests nonprofit integrity amid AI’s rush to power.