TLDR
- Greg Brockman recounted in court how Elon Musk aggressively sought majority ownership of OpenAI during a 2017 confrontation
- Musk reportedly wanted to use OpenAI to generate $80 billion needed for establishing a Martian settlement
- The OpenAI president testified he believed Musk might physically assault him when negotiations turned hostile
- After his ownership demands were denied, Musk abruptly departed and threatened to cut off financial support
- OpenAI is reportedly considering a $1 trillion public offering in 2026; SpaceX plans a June debut
Greg Brockman, who serves as president and co-founder of OpenAI, delivered compelling testimony this week from a federal courtroom in Oakland, California, offering unprecedented insight into the contentious legal dispute between Elon Musk and the artificial intelligence company.
[[TWITTER_EMBED_0]]According to Brockman’s account, a pivotal August 2017 meeting saw Musk asserting that his proven entrepreneurial success entitled him to controlling interest in the organization. Musk also expressed his desire to assume leadership of OpenAI, with Brockman noting that Sam Altman represented the only alternative candidate under consideration.
As discussions turned to an ownership arrangement that didn’t align with Musk’s vision, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. Brockman shared with jurors: “I actually thought he was going to hit me.” Musk responded with “I decline” before abruptly exiting the room.
Following his departure, Musk declared he would discontinue his financial contributions to OpenAI until the matter reached resolution. During this period, Musk represented one of the organization’s primary sources of capital since its 2015 establishment.
Brockman’s testimony also revealed that Musk advocated for transforming OpenAI into a for-profit entity that very same year. The rationale Musk provided centered on the argument that a nonprofit structure couldn’t secure the massive capital necessary for developing cutting-edge artificial intelligence.
The Mars Connection
The most remarkable revelation emerged when Brockman connected Musk’s pursuit of control to his extraterrestrial ambitions. Based on Brockman’s recollection, Musk stated he required approximately $80 billion to construct a city on Mars and viewed controlling OpenAI as a mechanism to generate those funds.
This courtroom account aligns with an actual SpaceX board resolution from January 2026. The board authorized granting Musk 200 million super-voting shares contingent upon SpaceX achieving a $7.5 trillion valuation and Musk successfully establishing a Martian colony housing no fewer than one million inhabitants.
Musk eventually departed from OpenAI’s board in February 2018, prior to the company’s launch of ChatGPT and its subsequent rise to become among the most valuable technology enterprises globally.
OpenAI contends that Musk’s litigation stems partially from resentment over forfeiting the opportunity to participate in that remarkable growth. The organization further suggests the lawsuit serves to advance his competing AI venture, xAI, which completed a merger with SpaceX in February 2026.
What Comes Next for OpenAI and SpaceX
Brockman’s testimony will reportedly be succeeded by appearances from Shivon Zilis, a former OpenAI board member who shares four children with Musk. Zilis stepped down from the board in March 2023 as Musk was establishing xAI.
OpenAI has entered preliminary discussions with major Wall Street financial institutions regarding a prospective $1 trillion initial public offering, potentially materializing in late 2026. Competing AI enterprise Anthropic has similarly set its sights on a comparable timeframe.
SpaceX has already submitted confidential paperwork to U.S. regulatory authorities and is targeting a June 2026 market debut.
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