Elon Musk Has Offered $97.4 billion to buy OpenAI
On February 10, 2025, Elon Musk, leading a consortium of investors, made a surprising bid of $97.4 billion to acquire control of OpenAI’s nonprofit division. This move is part of Musk’s ongoing efforts to steer OpenAI back to its original mission of developing artificial intelligence safely and transparently.
Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but departed in 2019 due to strategic disagreements, has been openly critical of the organization’s shift towards a for-profit model. He argues that this transition deviates from OpenAI’s foundational goals. In response to Musk’s offer, OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, humorously suggested a counter-offer to purchase Twitter for $9.74 billion, referencing Musk’s previous acquisition of the platform.
This development adds complexity to OpenAI’s ongoing transformation into a for-profit public benefit corporation. Musk’s proposal introduces uncertainty regarding the organization’s future direction and control. The outcome of this bid could significantly impact the landscape of artificial intelligence development and governance.
