Oakland: OpenAI president Greg Brockman testified in court that Elon Musk supported turning the artificial intelligence startup into a for-profit company but sought full control, partly to raise $80 billion for building a city on Mars.
The statement came during a trial in California where Musk, co-founder of OpenAI, is suing the company, alleging it abandoned its nonprofit mission and was improperly converted into a for-profit entity.
Musk has also claimed he was misled into donating $38 million and is seeking $150 billion in damages, along with the removal of OpenAI leadership.
Brockman said Musk argued in 2017 that OpenAI needed a corporate shift because a nonprofit could not raise sufficient funds for advanced AI development. He added that Musk wanted majority control, with himself as the only other leadership candidate being Sam Altman.
According to testimony, Musk said he needed $80 billion to build a self-sustaining Martian city and insisted on full authority over the company, including deciding when to step down.
Brockman described a tense 2017 meeting in which Musk reportedly grew angry over equity discussions and later left after refusing the proposed structure.
The trial highlights OpenAI’s evolution from nonprofit origins to a company that has since raised over $100 billion and is preparing for a potential $1 trillion IPO, while Musk continues legal and business disputes involving OpenAI and his own AI ventures.
