Elon Musk promises dramatic revelations as legal fight with OpenAI heats up

Elon Musk

• Musk warns OpenAI CEO Altman ahead of upcoming courtroom battle
• Musk seeks up to $134 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft
• Jury trial set for late April in Oakland, California

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Elon Musk has once again taken his very public feud with OpenAI to the internet, issuing what many see as an open warning to CEO Sam Altman ahead of an upcoming courtroom battle. In a post on X, Musk said he “can’t wait to start the trial,” hinting that the legal fight could reveal dramatic details about how the company behind ChatGPT operates.

Musk was responding to a post that claimed there was a 57 percent chance he could win his lawsuit against OpenAI. The post also pointed to new court documents suggesting that OpenAI’s president had once wanted to turn the organisation into a for-profit company. Quoting that post, Musk wrote: “Can’t wait to start the trial. The discovery and testimony will blow your mind.”

The lawsuit itself goes back to Musk’s role as one of OpenAI’s co-founders. He has accused the company, and Altman in particular, of betraying its original non-profit mission. According to Musk, OpenAI was set up to develop artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity, but later shifted course in ways that he says prioritised profit and power.

Altman did not stay silent for long. In a series of posts on X, the OpenAI CEO pushed back strongly, accusing Musk of selectively presenting information to suit his case. Altman shared links to blog posts published by OpenAI, which included notes from past calls involving Musk. According to Altman, those records show a more complicated story, including Musk himself pushing for changes in OpenAI’s structure.

In one particularly striking post, Altman said Musk had once argued for majority control of OpenAI and talked about accumulating massive funds for a self-sustaining city on Mars. He also claimed Musk discussed the idea of his children controlling artificial general intelligence in the future. Altman said this context was important in understanding internal disagreements at OpenAI during its early years.

The legal stakes are enormous. In a separate development, Musk has reportedly filed court documents seeking up to $134 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, which is a major partner and investor in the AI company. According to a Bloomberg report, the filing was made on January 16, 2026.

The move came just a day after a US federal judge rejected an attempt by OpenAI and Microsoft to avoid a jury trial, which is now expected to take place in late April in Oakland, California. Musk’s lawyer argued that the gains made by OpenAI and Microsoft far exceed Musk’s original investment and that he is entitled to a share of those gains.

As the trial approaches, the clash between Musk and OpenAI is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched legal battles in the tech world.