Sam Altman Says Elon Musk Left OpenAI Nonprofit “For Dead” in Explosive Trial Testimony

Sam Altman turned Elon Musk’s central accusation against him in federal court on Tuesday, testifying that the Tesla CEO did not preserve OpenAI’s nonprofit mission but abandoned it after he failed to gain control.

“We were kind of left for dead,” Altman testified, according to CNBC’s account of the trial involving the two tech billionaires. The remark came as OpenAI’s chief executive defended himself against Musk’s claim that Altman and other company leaders betrayed the artificial intelligence company’s founding purpose by shifting it from a nonprofit research lab into a commercial powerhouse.

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Musk alleges that Altman and OpenAI broke a founding agreement to keep the company focused on benefiting humanity rather than generating profit. He is seeking Altman’s removal, the undoing of OpenAI’s for-profit conversion, and the return of billions to the nonprofit.

Asked about Musk’s accusation that he had “stolen a charity,” Altman said: “It feels difficult to even wrap my head around that framing,” adding that OpenAI had created “one of the largest charities in the world.”

OpenAI was founded in 2015 as a nonprofit with a mission to ensure artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity. In 2019, it created a for-profit subsidiary to raise the massive capital needed for advanced AI research, while maintaining that the nonprofit remained in control. OpenAI says its updated structure keeps the OpenAI Foundation in charge of the for-profit public benefit corporation.

Altman testified that Musk’s exit in 2018 came after other founders rejected his demands for sweeping control. Altman reportedly said Musk wanted unilateral authority and disagreed with others over how equity in a future for-profit entity should be split. “I was extremely uncomfortable with it,” Altman said.

Altman also reportedly testified Musk wanted to be CEO and insisted on “total control” if OpenAI created a for-profit structure. Altman said one “hair-raising” moment came when Musk allegedly suggested that control could pass to his children if he died.

Musk, for his part, has argued that OpenAI’s transformation proves his case. During earlier testimony, he said, “I thought I had started a nonprofit with OpenAI, but they stole it,” calling that “the entire basis of this lawsuit.”

Altman’s testimony also sought to recast Musk not as a betrayed donor but as a rival. Musk launched xAI in 2023, directly competing with OpenAI. OpenAI’s lawyers have argued that the lawsuit is aimed at slowing a competitor, while Musk’s lawyers have painted Altman as untrustworthy and self-interested.

Altman acknowledged Musk’s early role but said the company survived and grew after his departure. “I am grateful to Mr. Musk for his early contributions and guidance,” Altman said. “I wish he would stop what he is doing here.”