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Musk's OpenAI Lawsuit Balloons to $100B as Trial Nears
Elon Musk now seeks $79B to $134B in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging the AI firm abandoned its research mission for profit. OpenAI calls it a 'legal ambush' weeks before the April 27 trial.
Elon Musk has dramatically escalated his legal battle against OpenAI, filing for damages between $79 billion and $134 billion just weeks before trial. OpenAI, in a Friday night court filing, accused Musk of a 'legal ambush' designed to derail proceedings and reshape his public narrative around the lawsuit.
Musk originally sued OpenAI and Microsoft in 2024, alleging the ChatGPT maker betrayed its founding mission as a research institution after securing billions in Microsoft backing and restructuring as a for-profit. The trial is set for April 27.
The proposed damages hinge on OpenAI's explosive valuation growth since Musk co-founded the startup with Sam Altman in 2015. If awarded, the judgment would rank among the largest in U.S. legal history. Musk's legal team now wants any damages redirected to OpenAI rather than to him personally, while also seeking court oversight of the company's future financings and transactions—effectively asking for judicial control of OpenAI's capital structure.
OpenAI and Microsoft deny wrongdoing. The case underscores mounting tensions over AI governance, corporate mission drift, and the legal boundaries of founder influence as AI valuations reach unprecedented levels.
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