Elon Musk seeks $134 billion from OpenAI and Microsoft in explosive lawsuit, claims he built OpenAI from scratch

Elon Musk has escalated his lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, seeking $79 billion to $134 billion in damages, claiming he is entitled to the profits they earned after OpenAI abandoned its original nonprofit mission. Musk argues that his early financial support and influence were critical in building OpenAI into today’s AI powerhouse. Musk says he contributed about $38 million, roughly 60% of OpenAI’s early funding, helped recruit key talent, connected founders with influential partners, and provided credibility at a time when AI startups struggled to gain attention. According to his legal filing, OpenAI allegedly gained $65.5–$109.4 billion from this foundation, while Microsoft earned an additional $13.3–$25.1 billion through its partnership with OpenAI. The lawsuit follows Musk’s failed attempts to regain control or buy OpenAI and comes amid rising tensions between the parties. Musk claims OpenAI violated its founding principles by restructuring into a for-profit entity and aligning closely with Microsoft. OpenAI has rejected the claims, calling the lawsuit “unserious” and part of a harassment campaign, while Microsoft has declined public comment. A judge has ruled that the case will go to jury trial, expected to begin in April in Oakland, California. Musk may also seek punitive damages or an injunction if he wins. OpenAI and Microsoft are challenging Musk’s damage calculations, calling them speculative and misleading, and argue the case is an attempt by a rival AI founder to extract massive value from a nonprofit organization. The dispute has evolved from a disagreement over OpenAI’s mission into one of the largest legal battles in tech, with potentially historic financial and industry implications.