Elon Musk fires back at Sam Altman: "You stole a non-profit"
Tesla CEO Elon Musk responded to Sam Altman's viral post about canceling his Tesla Roadster reservation after 7.5 years with a pointed accusation about OpenAI's transformation from non-profit to for-profit entity.
"You stole a non-profit." The Tesla CEO's comment on November 1 turned what appeared to be a customer service complaint into another chapter of the ongoing feud between the two tech titans.
Altman had posted on X the previous day, sharing screenshots of his failed attempt to get a $50,000 refund for a Tesla Roadster he reserved in 2018. The OpenAI CEO's email to Tesla bounced back with an "address not found" error, highlighting frustrations shared by many early Roadster reservation holders.
"I really was excited for the car! And I understand delays. But 7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait,"
Musk's response immediately reignited the broader conflict between the two over OpenAI's corporate direction. The jab alluded to Musk’s ongoing lawsuit against Altman and OpenAI, where he alleges the company violated its founding mission when it shifted from a nonprofit to a for-profit structure.
The OpenAI dispute
Musk co-founded OpenAI with Altman in 2015 as a nonprofit dedicated to developing artificial general intelligence for humanity's benefit. He contributed $100 million as an early backer but left the board in 2018. Since then, he has criticized the company's partnership with Microsoft and its 2019 shift to a "capped-profit" model.
The tension escalated this week as OpenAI announced the completion of its corporate restructuring. The new structure places a nonprofit foundation in control of a public benefit corporation, with the nonprofit holding 26% equity. OpenAI is eyeing a potential $1 trillion valuation for a future IPO.
Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Altman in February 2024, withdrew it in June before refiling in August. In November, his lawyers sought a court order to block OpenAI's for-profit conversion. OpenAI dismissed the legal action as "utterly without merit."
The Roadster saga continues
The Tesla Roadster, unveiled in 2017 with promises of 0-60 mph acceleration in under two seconds, was originally scheduled for 2020 production. The company has missed every subsequent production target, with current estimates pointing to a possible 2027 delivery.
During an October 2024 earnings call, Musk apologized to "long-suffering deposit holders," calling the Roadster a "cherry on the icing" while Tesla focuses on its Robotaxi program. Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen recently confirmed plans for a demonstration in late 2025.
Altman’s cancellation comes as other high-profile customers seek refunds. YouTuber Marques Brownlee canceled his dual Roadster reservations in September, though he confirmed receiving his full $50,000 deposit back after initially being told Tesla would keep $5,000.
The exchange underscores the personal nature of the rivalry between Musk and Altman, which has evolved from a professional disagreement into a public spectacle playing out on social media and in courtrooms. As both men push forward with competing visions for AI and transportation, their conflict shows no signs of cooling down.
Neither Tesla nor representatives for Altman have issued further comments on the refund request or Musk's response.
