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Elon Musk and a group of investors submit a massive $97.4 billion bid to take over OpenAI, aiming to return the company to its open-source roots while reigniting his rivalry with Sam Altman.
In a bold move that could reshape the future of artificial intelligence, a group of investors led by Elon Musk has submitted a $97.4 billion bid to acquire OpenAI. The unsolicited offer signals Musk’s intent to bring the company back to its original mission of open-source AI development.
Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but later parted ways with the organization, has been vocal about his concerns regarding its shift from nonprofit to a for-profit model. “It’s time for OpenAI to return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was,” Musk stated through his lawyer, Marc Toberoff. “We will make sure that happens.”
The investor group behind the bid includes major players such as Baron Capital Group, Valor Management, Atreides Management, Vy Capital, Emmanuel Capital Management, and Eight Partners VC. Many of these firms have strong ties to Musk’s other ventures, including Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Company, signaling a coordinated effort to steer OpenAI in a new direction.
An investor group led by Elon Musk is making a $97.4 billion bid to acquire OpenAI. Wow! This could be a game-changer. If successful, it could mean the end of left-leaning BIAS in ChatGPT, paving the way for an AI that is truly neutral, objective, and free from political… pic.twitter.com/gKbD8FdpMb
— Michael Müller (@kryptonavi) February 10, 2025
Musk’s AI company, xAI, is also involved in the bid, raising speculation about a potential merger between xAI and OpenAI if the acquisition is successful. Musk highlighted xAI’s commitment to transparency and open-source AI development, contrasting it with what he sees as OpenAI’s move toward more restrictive, profit-driven models.
BIG NEWS: 🔥
Elon Musk @elonmusk led team submits a MASSIVE $97.4 BILLION bid to acquire OpenAI! 🤯
Musk says it’s time to bring OpenAI back to its roots: open-source, safety-first AI for good.
But wait—Sam Altman @sama claps back: “No thanks, but we’ll buy Twitter for $9.74B… pic.twitter.com/SsZNUgnl0b
— Aaliya (@aaliya_va) February 11, 2025
However, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wasted no time in dismissing the offer. In a cheeky response on X (formerly Twitter), Altman wrote, “No thank you but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want,” referencing Musk’s controversial $44 billion purchase of the platform in 2022.
While the bid has certainly grabbed headlines, it remains unclear how serious the investor group is or whether this move is part of a larger strategy to influence OpenAI’s direction. Some analysts suggest it may be an attempt to drive up the cost for Altman’s team as they continue efforts to restructure the company.
As OpenAI has yet to issue an official response, the tech world watches closely to see whether this bid will lead to a major shift in AI development—or simply add another chapter to the ongoing rivalry between Musk and Altman.
