A New Chapter in the Musk–Altman Rivalry
The long-standing tension between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has flared up once again — and this time, it’s not about artificial intelligence or lawsuits, but a car reservation gone wrong.
The latest round began when Altman took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his frustration over a seven-year wait for his Tesla Roadster, a vehicle originally unveiled by Musk in 2017. What followed was a classic Musk–Altman exchange: sarcasm, screenshots, and plenty of social media drama.
Altman’s Frustration Over Tesla’s Delayed Roadster
On Thursday, Altman posted on X a thread titled “A tale in three acts.” The OpenAI CEO shared screenshots of his 2018 Roadster reservation, showing a $45,000 payment made to secure the next-generation sports car.
In subsequent screenshots, Altman revealed that he had requested a refund of $50,000 (including a possible extra deposit) — only to receive a bounce-back email, suggesting his message hadn’t gone through.
“I really was excited for the car! And I understand delays. But 7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait,” Altman wrote.
His post quickly gained traction, with thousands of users sympathizing with the billionaire’s predicament — and, of course, waiting for Musk’s inevitable response.
Musk Fires Back: “That Is In Your Nature”
As expected, Musk didn’t stay silent for long. On Saturday, the Tesla CEO replied directly to Altman’s post, accusing him of leaving out key details.
“And you forgot to mention act 4, where this issue was fixed and you received a refund within 24 hours,” Musk wrote. “But that is in your nature.”
The tweet, signed off with Musk’s characteristic flair, reignited the public feud between the two tech moguls. Neither Tesla nor Altman’s representatives responded to media requests for comment, according to Business Insider.
The Roadster Saga: From Hype to Delay
When Musk first unveiled the next-generation Tesla Roadster in 2017, he promised it would be “the fastest production car ever made.” The announcement sent shockwaves through the auto industry, boasting 0–60 mph in under two seconds and a top speed exceeding 250 mph.
However, more than seven years later, the Roadster has yet to enter production. Tesla’s most recent quarterly earnings report lists the car’s status as “design development.”
Even popular YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) recently revealed that he canceled his own Roadster reservation due to the extensive delay — echoing Altman’s frustration.
Musk Promises “Crazy Technology” Ahead
Despite the setbacks, Musk continues to build anticipation. During a recent appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” he teased that the upcoming Roadster would feature “crazy technology.”
“If you took all the James Bond cars and combined them, it’s crazier than that,” Musk claimed.
“We’re getting close to unveiling the latest version. The demo will be unforgettable.”
The remarks suggest Tesla may soon reveal the long-awaited vehicle — though fans have learned to take Musk’s timelines with a grain of salt.
A Feud Beyond Cars: AI, Lawsuits, and Ideologies
The Roadster drama is just the latest spark in a long and complex feud between Musk and Altman — two former allies turned rivals.
Musk was one of the original cofounders and funders of OpenAI in 2015, envisioning it as a nonprofit, open-source AI research organization. However, after leaving the board in 2018, Musk began openly criticizing Altman’s leadership and OpenAI’s close ties with Microsoft.
In 2023, Musk accused OpenAI of betraying its founding mission:
“OpenAI was created as an open-source, nonprofit company to serve as a counterweight to Google. Now it’s a closed-source, maximum-profit company controlled by Microsoft. Not what I intended at all,” Musk posted on X.
A year later, Musk escalated matters with a lawsuit against OpenAI and Altman, alleging the company violated its nonprofit obligations. OpenAI dismissed the claims as “utterly without merit” and later published Musk’s old emails showing he once proposed merging OpenAI with Tesla.
OpenAI’s New Structure: The Altman Response
Meanwhile, OpenAI has moved forward with its restructuring. The company recently announced the creation of the OpenAI Foundation, a nonprofit overseeing its public benefit corporation (OpenAI Group PBC). The move aims to clarify governance and balance profit motives with its stated mission of ensuring safe and beneficial AI.
The Bottom Line
From AI ethics to electric cars, Musk and Altman’s rivalry continues to capture global attention. What began as a dispute over a car reservation has once again spotlighted the clashing personalities and philosophies of two of tech’s most influential figures.
While Altman waits for his refund — and Musk prepares the next Roadster demo — one thing’s certain: the drama between the two won’t be coming to a full stop anytime soon.
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