Elon Musk-Led Group Proposes $97.4 Billion Bid for OpenAI Control

Feb 10, 2025
Elon Musk's consortium has made a $97.4 billion offer to acquire control of OpenAI, aiming to revert its focus to open-source AI development.
Elon Musk-Led Group Proposes $97.4 Billion Bid for OpenAI Control
Image: TechCrunch , U.S. Air Force / Trevor Cokley

A consortium led by Elon Musk has proposed a $97.4 billion bid to acquire control of OpenAI, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. This offer comes months after Musk initiated legal action against the AI startup to prevent its transition from a nonprofit to a for-profit entity.

The bid, submitted by Musk's attorney Marc Toberoff, aims to address ongoing tensions between Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman regarding the company's future direction. Musk has expressed concerns over OpenAI's $500 billion Stargate project, questioning the financial backing of its investors.

Musk's group, which includes his AI company xAI, plans to merge with OpenAI if the acquisition is successful. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but later departed, has criticized the company's shift towards profit-making, advocating for a return to its original open-source and safety-focused mission.

OpenAI, Musk, and other involved parties have not yet commented on the bid. The proposal highlights Musk's ongoing efforts to influence the trajectory of AI development, emphasizing a commitment to open-source principles.

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