Elon Musk Leads $97.4 Billion Bid to Acquire OpenAI Amid Feud with Sam Altman

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has launched a $97.4 billion bid to take over OpenAI, intensifying his ongoing feud with the company’s CEO, Sam Altman. The unsolicited offer, reported by The Wall Street Journal, has been submitted to OpenAI’s board through Musk’s attorney, Marc Toberoff.

A Move to Challenge Altman’s AI Plans

Musk’s takeover bid comes at a crucial time when Altman is working to convert OpenAI into a for-profit entity and launch an ambitious AI infrastructure project known as Stargate. The investor group supporting Musk’s bid has pledged to match or exceed any competing offers, complicating OpenAI’s transition plans.

The bid is backed by Musk’s AI startup xAI and several key investors, including:

✅ Valor Equity Partners

✅ Baron Capital

✅ Atreides Management

✅ Vy Capital

✅ Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel

Public Spat Between Musk and Altman

Altman swiftly dismissed the takeover attempt on the social media platform X, sarcastically responding:

“No thank you, but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”

Musk fired back, calling Altman a "Swindler" and later posting "Scam Altman", fueling their already tense relationship.

Musk Pushes for Open-Source AI

Musk has been a vocal critic of OpenAI’s shift toward commercialization, arguing that it should remain a nonprofit, safety-focused organization. In his statement, Musk emphasized:

“It’s time for OpenAI to return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was. We will make sure that happens.”

Despite Musk’s efforts, OpenAI’s 10-person board remains united behind Altman, resisting Musk’s months-long campaign to prevent the for-profit separation.

As the battle for OpenAI’s control escalates, the AI industry watches closely to see whether Musk’s bid will reshape the future of artificial intelligence.