Elon Musk is back at it—this time with a $97.4 billion bid to buy OpenAI. But let’s be clear: this isn’t some strategic acquisition attempt. This is classic Elon—throwing his weight (and money) around to make things difficult for Sam Altman.
Altman, to his credit, shut it down immediately—and with a little humor, too. His response?
For those keeping score, Musk bought Twitter (now X) for $44 billion—a decision that hasn’t exactly aged well. Altman’s reply wasn’t just a rejection; it was a reminder of how badly that deal has gone.
The Real Play: Disrupting OpenAI’s Growth
Elon Musk’s $97.4 billion bid for OpenAI isn’t serious—it’s strategic sabotage. Altman has been working to raise funding at a $40 billion valuation, transitioning OpenAI from its original nonprofit structure into a fully for-profit powerhouse.
Now, imagine you’re an investor about to put money into the company at that $40 billion valuation… and suddenly Musk waltzes in with a $97.4 billion bid for OpenAI. What do you do? You hesitate. You question whether you’re undervaluing the company. You wait.
That slowdown benefits Musk, not OpenAI. He’s already suing OpenAI, claiming it abandoned its mission of making AI open and accessible. Now he’s throwing a wrench in Altman’s funding efforts, making the transition from nonprofit to for-profit way more complicated.
Musk vs. Altman: A Tech Rivalry That’s Only Getting Messier
These two have history. Musk co-founded OpenAI but left in 2018 when his vision clashed with the direction Altman was taking. Since then, he’s been one of OpenAI’s loudest critics, especially as the company aligned with Microsoft.
This bid isn’t about buying OpenAI—it’s about undermining it. Whether by lawsuits, public criticism, or inflated acquisition offers, Musk is trying to make OpenAI’s life harder while he builds his own competing AI venture, xAI.
What Happens Next?
Musk’s bid isn’t going anywhere—but it has already done its damage. Investors and analysts are now debating OpenAI’s valuation, and Altman’s fundraising just got more complicated.
Musk didn’t make this offer to buy OpenAI. He made it to disrupt it. And for now, he’s succeeded in creating yet another roadblock for Altman and OpenAI’s future.