Elon Musk appeals $134 billion OpenAI loss, calls verdict a “calendar technicality”
On May 18, 2026, Elon Musk lost his lawsuit against OpenAI. The jury in Oakland, California, dismissed the case after deliberating for just two hours. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers upheld the verdict and stated that she was prepared to dismiss the lawsuit “on the spot.” She noted there was substantial evidence supporting the jury’s finding.
OpenAI’s lawyers argued during the trial that Musk’s donations came with no strings attached, and the restructuring was necessary for OpenAI to compete in the expensive race against Google DeepMind. The judge ruled in favor of the jury on statute of limitations grounds alone. The lawsuit against Microsoft, which has been investing in OpenAI since 2019, was also dismissed.
Musk had sued in 2024 because OpenAI had broken its promise to remain a non-profit organization. He demanded up to $134 billion in “ill-gotten gains” and the removal of Sam Altman and Brockman from the company. Musk’s lawyer, Steven Molo, reserved the right to appeal after the verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The jury deliberated for just two hours before reaching a verdict in favor of OpenAI.
- Musk had sued because he believed OpenAI was no longer operating as a non-profit, despite its past promise to remain so.
- OpenAI’s restructuring and competition with Google DeepMind were cited by the defense as reasons for the changes made to the company.
Originally published at the-decoder.com. Curated by AI Maestro.
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