Musk Wants Up to $134B in OpenAI Lawsuit, Despite $700B Fortune

Elon Musk demands up to $134B from OpenAI and Microsoft, claiming they abandoned their nonprofit mission—here’s what’s at stake.
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Musk Wants Up to $134B in OpenAI Lawsuit, Despite $700B Fortune
Musk Seeks $134B in OpenAI Lawsuit Over Broken Nonprofit Promise Elon Musk is demanding a staggering $79 billion to $134 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging the AI company betrayed its original nonprofit mission—a promise he says was central to his early support. Despite his estimated $700 billion net worth, Musk argues that OpenAI’s pivot toward commercialization under Microsoft’s influence not only violated ethical commitments but also deprived him of rightful returns on his foundational role. The lawsuit, now backed by expert financial analysis, has reignited debate over AI governance, founder rights, and the blurred line between idealism and profit in the tech world. Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic / Getty Images A Founder’s Betrayal—or a Strategic Pivot? When OpenAI launched in 2015, it was heralded as a rare counterbalance to corporate-controlled artificial intelligence. Co-founded by Musk, Sam Altman, and others, the organization pledged to develop safe, o…