 "‘Scam Altman’: Elon Musk calls out OpenAI CEO for mocking $97.4 billion takeover bid")
Elon Musk clearly did not take Sam Altman rebuffing his takeover bid and mocking him with an offer to buy Twitter for 9.74 billion well.
On Monday, a group of investors led by Elon Musk made a $97.4 billion offer to acquire control of OpenAI’s nonprofit arm. The bid, revealed by The Wall Street Journal, adds fuel to Musk’s ongoing legal battle with the AI company. Musk has accused OpenAI of abandoning its original mission of transparency and fair competition in favour of profit-making.
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, however, has expressed no interest in entertaining the offer. This enraged Musk who resorted to what he does best — turn into an internet troll.
A War of Words on X
The takeover bid quickly sparked a public spat between Musk and Altman on X, formerly known as Twitter and now owned by Musk himself. Altman dismissed Musk’s offer with a sarcastic remark, suggesting he’d rather buy X for $9.74 billion.
Musk retorted by calling Altman a “swindler.”
In true Musk fashion, he later posted a clip of Altman’s US Senate hearing from May 2023, where Altman claimed he held no equity in OpenAI and was driven solely by goodwill. Musk captioned the post with a sharp jab: “Scam Altman.”
Scam Altman
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 10, 2025
pic.twitter.com/j9EXIqBZ8u
Altman reportedly addressed the situation internally, telling OpenAI employees that these tactics were aimed at weakening the organisation because of its progress. He emphasised that OpenAI’s structure prevented any single entity from taking control.
A History of Tensions Between Musk and OpenAI
Musk and Altman’s strained relationship has deep roots. They co-founded OpenAI in 2015 to challenge Google’s growing dominance in AI research. Initially structured as a nonprofit, OpenAI aimed to ensure safe and democratic access to artificial intelligence.
However, Musk departed the organisation following internal disagreements over its direction, leaving Altman at the helm.
By 2019, OpenAI had set up a hybrid structure that allowed it to attract major investments from companies like Microsoft. This shift enabled the development of AI products like ChatGPT but also sparked criticism from Musk, who has accused OpenAI of betraying its founding principles. Musk has filed multiple lawsuits against OpenAI, claiming it is attempting to monopolise the AI market with Microsoft’s backing. He also alleges that both companies have pressured investors not to support competing AI ventures like his xAI.
Altman’s Brief Ouster and OpenAI’s Board Shakeup
The rivalry between Musk and OpenAI took a dramatic turn in late 2023 when the company’s board temporarily ousted Sam Altman. OpenAI announced that a review had found Altman was not fully transparent in his dealings with the board. However, the decision sparked a backlash, leading to Altman’s reinstatement just five days later. The organisation also restructured its board of directors to prevent a repeat of the incident.
While Musk’s latest offer has grabbed headlines, industry observers are sceptical about whether OpenAI will even consider it. The nonprofit holds significant control over the for-profit side of the company, which complicates any takeover attempt. Additionally, Musk’s history with OpenAI and his ongoing legal disputes are likely to further strain any potential negotiations.
For now, Musk’s attempt to gain control of OpenAI has become another chapter in the long and bitter rivalry between the two tech leaders. How this high-stakes power struggle plays out remains to be seen, but it is clear that neither Musk nor Altman is willing to back down anytime soon.
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