Sam Altman Criticizes Elon Musk Over $97.4 Billion OpenAI Bid, Calls Him “Insecure” and “Not a Happy Person”
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has sharply criticized Elon Musk after the billionaire entrepreneur made an unsolicited bid to acquire the artificial intelligence startup’s assets for a whopping $97.4 billion. Altman, speaking during an interview at the Paris AI Summit on February 13, 2025, accused Musk of acting out of a “position of insecurity,” while also suggesting that the Tesla and SpaceX founder is “not a happy person.”
The conflict between the two tech titans stems from Musk’s attempt to purchase OpenAI, a company he co-founded in 2015 with the aim of challenging Google’s dominance in the AI field. However, Musk stepped down from the company a few years later after disagreements about its direction, and Altman has since taken the reins as CEO. In the interview, Altman expressed his thoughts on Musk’s behavior, remarking that “it’s likely he has lived his entire life in a state of insecurity.” He went on to add, “I sympathize with the man,” before adding, “I don’t think he’s a happy person.”
Altman’s comments came in the wake of Musk leading a group of investors who offered to purchase OpenAI’s assets, an offer that Altman swiftly rejected. “The company is not for sale,” Altman declared, emphasizing that Musk’s approach was part of a larger tactic to destabilize OpenAI. He added, “It’s another one of his tactics to try to mess with us.”
The $97.4 billion bid, which has raised eyebrows within the tech industry, is seen by Altman as an attempt to slow down the progress of OpenAI, which has become one of the most prominent AI companies in the world. When asked about Musk’s motivations for the deal, Altman suggested that Musk was likely trying to “slow us down.”
In a more playful response to the bid, Altman joked on the platform X (formerly Twitter) that OpenAI was not interested in selling, but was willing to make a counteroffer, humorously stating, “No thank you, but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.” This lighthearted remark added fuel to the already growing tension between the two men, particularly after Musk’s response, where he referred to Altman as a “swindler.”
Musk’s offer is reportedly backed by a number of prominent investors, including Ari Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor, and venture capital firms like 8VC, Valor Equity Partners, and Vy Capital. Musk has publicly stated that he believes it is “time for OpenAI to return to the open-source, safety-focused force it once was,” a sentiment that reflects his increasing frustration with the company’s shift toward a more commercial model.
The history between Musk and OpenAI is complex. The organization was initially founded as a non-profit with the goal of advancing artificial intelligence in a safe and accessible manner, in direct competition with the likes of Google. However, as OpenAI shifted to a for-profit model and began taking in larger investments, Musk grew disillusioned with the company’s new direction, leading to his departure in 2018. Altman, who took over as CEO, has led OpenAI through significant growth, with the company now being valued at billions of dollars and at the forefront of AI development.
As the situation between Musk and OpenAI continues to unfold, it is clear that the dispute is not just about a potential acquisition but also about the future direction of AI, transparency, and control within the industry. For now, Altman remains resolute in his stance that OpenAI is not for sale and is focused on the company’s long-term mission to advance AI responsibly.
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