Elon Musk arrived at the Oakland federal courthouse Tuesday as his civil trial against Sam Altman got underway, marking a high-stakes legal confrontation between two of tech’s most powerful figures. Photographs showed Musk entering the building before opening arguments, with his testimony expected as early as today. The case centers on Musk’s claim that Altman and other executives misled him into donating $38 million to OpenAI.
Musk’s attorney, Steven Molo, told the nine-person jury during opening statements that “the case isn’t about Elon Musk,” according to reports from the courtroom. Musk alleges the donations were made based on promises that OpenAI would remain a nonprofit devoted to developing AI for public benefit, not private gain. The suit seeks up to $134 billion in damages and demands that Altman be removed from his position.
The trial is expected to draw intense scrutiny as it unfolds in a packed courtroom with limited public seating. During jury selection, some potential jurors expressed reservations about Musk, though the process ultimately seated a panel. The case touches on foundational tensions in the AI industry between open, public-interest development and for-profit commercialization.
Observers note that the outcome could reshape how tech donations and nonprofit pledges are legally enforced. A ruling against Altman and OpenAI might set a precedent for holding founders accountable to stated missions, potentially chilling future investments. Musk’s legal team signaled they will present evidence of internal communications allegedly showing profit-driven motives.
Legal analysts caution that Musk faces a high burden of proof to demonstrate deliberate deception, rather than mere mission drift. The defense is expected to argue that OpenAI’s evolution toward a for-profit structure was transparent and necessary for scaling advanced AI.