Elon Musk seeks $134 billion in damages in trial challenging OpenAI's shift to for-profit structure

Musk is seeking as much as $134 billion in damages, funds he has said would go to OpenAI's charitable arm, and is also asking the court to remove Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman, while potentially reversing the company's restructuring completed in October.

The dispute stems from Musk's allegations that OpenAI shifted away from its original nonprofit mission toward a for-profit model that benefited leadership and investors; OpenAI argues the transition was necessary to secure funding for long-term artificial general intelligence ambitions.

The three-week trial could surface internal communications and strategic details, with testimony expected from both Musk and Altman, along with potential witnesses such as Satya Nadella and other current and former executives; a forced change in governance or leadership could introduce instability similar to the brief 2023 removal of Altman.