Altman Vs. Musk: What The Dueling Billionaires Have Said About Each Other At Trial

BreakingBusinessMusk Vs. Altman: What The Dueling Billionaires Have Said About Each Other At TrialByAntonio Pequeño IV,Forbes Staff. Pequeño is a breaking news reporter who covers tech and more.Follow AuthorMay 12, 2026, 08:08pm EDTMay 12, 2026, 08:12pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.ToplineElon Musk and Sam Altman’s ongoing feud has moved to the witness stand recently as Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI has gone to trial, producing some revelatory information about the dueling billionaires and their experience at OpenAI.The trial between Musk and Altman began last month.Photo by Muhammed Selim Korkutata/Anadolu via Getty ImagesKey FactsAltman: The OpenAI chief recalled during his first day of testimony on Tuesday that Musk, a founding member of OpenAI, once wanted a 90% stake in the company and had suggested he may pass control of OpenAI to his children in the event of his death.Altman said Musk did not understand “how to run a good research lab,” alleging Musk “demotivated” some of OpenAI’s key researchers by ranking the company’s employees.Altman also claimed Musk was given a chance to invest in OpenAI’s for-profit arm but that Musk allegedly declined because he did not want to invest in a company he did not control on principle.Altman fired back at Musk’s accusations he had “stolen a charity,” saying, “This whole ‘you can’t steal a charity.’ I agree you can’t steal it. Mr. Musk did try to kill it, I guess twice.”Musk: Musk, who testified during his three days in court over a week ago, said Altman and others at OpenAI “reassured” him the company would “continue as a nonprofit,” alleging OpenAI’s for-profit arm “has taken the super majority of the value of the nonprofit.”“I don't think you should turn a nonprofit into a for-profit,” Musk added, saying nothing was wrong with running a for-profit company but noting, “you just can't steal a charity."Musk, who accuse...