Trial Twist: OpenAI Co-founder Reveals Elon Musk’s Secret Attempt to Poach Sam Altman

Musk Sought to Hire Altman for Tesla AI Lab, Testimony Reveals

In a stunning turn in the landmark trial, former OpenAI board member Shivon Zilis testified Thursday that Elon Musk tried to recruit Sam Altman to lead a new AI lab at Tesla. The revelation undercuts Musk's claim that he is suing to protect OpenAI's nonprofit mission.

Zilis, who has four children with Musk, said the recruitment effort occurred around 2018, when Musk was leaving OpenAI. She described it as a direct attempt to poach the CEO for Musk's electric-car company.

Brockman Fires Back: Musk Pushed for Profit and Absolute Control

Earlier this week, OpenAI president Greg Brockman took the stand to counter Musk's narrative. Brockman testified that Musk was never truly committed to the nonprofit structure.

He argued that Musk personally pushed for OpenAI to create a for-profit arm and fought a bitter battle for “absolute control.” The testimony directly contradicts Musk's claim that he was deceived into donating $38 million based on a promise to keep OpenAI nonprofit.

“Elon wanted to turn OpenAI into a for-profit that he could control,” Brockman said, his voice steady. “When he didn’t get his way, he left – and now he’s trying to tear down a competitor.”

Musk's Threatening Text Revealed

Tensions boiled over in court when Brockman read a threatening text message from Musk, sent two days before the trial began. “By the end of this week, you and Sam will be the most hated men in America. If you insist, so it will be,” Musk wrote.

Brockman testified that when he suggested both sides drop their claims, Musk replied with the warning. The message was met with silence in the courtroom, where Altman sat quietly as his wife fidgeted behind him.

Musk Stormed Out With a Tesla Painting

Last week, Musk testified that he is suing to “save OpenAI’s nonprofit mission” and said he would accept a capped-profit model. But Brockman’s testimony this week painted a different picture.

According to Brockman, Musk’s true goal was to gain control and maximize profit – and when he failed, he allegedly stormed out of a meeting carrying a painting of a Tesla.

Background

Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 with Altman, Brockman, and others, then left in 2018. He is now seeking to remove Altman and Brockman from their roles and unwind OpenAI’s restructuring into a public benefit corporation. He also seeks up to $134 billion in damages from OpenAI and its investor Microsoft.

The lawsuit stems from OpenAI’s shift from a nonprofit to a for-profit subsidiary, fueled by billions from Microsoft. Musk claims he was misled; OpenAI counters that he advocated for the profit model himself.

What This Means

The trial outcome could upend OpenAI’s race toward an IPO at a valuation near $1 trillion. If Musk succeeds, the restructuring could be reversed, jeopardizing the company’s future.

Meanwhile, Musk’s own AI company, xAI – now part of SpaceX – is expected to go public as early as June at a target valuation of $1.75 trillion. The trial is revealing that the battle is as much about market dominance as it is about principles.

Protesters outside the courthouse sang hymns against the AI race, while lawyers held press conferences. The courtroom drama continues next week.