OpenAI · 2026-05-18 · major
Jury Throws Out Elon Musk's Lawsuit Against OpenAI and Sam Altman — Unanimous Verdict Finds the 'Stole a Charity' Claims Were Filed Too Late
A federal jury in Oakland unanimously rejected Elon Musk's suit accusing OpenAI, Sam Altman, and Greg Brockman of betraying the lab's nonprofit mission, ruling the claims were filed past the statute of limitations. Musk plans to appeal.
A federal jury unanimously dismissed Elon Musk's long-running lawsuit over OpenAI's for-profit conversion.
What is it?
Elon Musk sued OpenAI, Sam Altman, and company president Greg Brockman in 2024, claiming they 'stole a charity' by restructuring the nonprofit AI lab into one with a for-profit arm and unjustly enriched themselves. He sought to unwind the conversion and remove Altman from leadership.
How does it work?
After a trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, a nine-member advisory jury deliberated for under two hours and found Musk filed too late. The jury decided he had three years to sue and was aware of the conduct as early as 2021. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers agreed and dismissed the case on statute-of-limitations grounds before any damages were weighed.
Why does it matter?
The verdict clears a major legal cloud over OpenAI's restructuring, removing a threat that could have unwound its for-profit arm and forced out its CEO. Musk's lead attorney Marc Toberoff said the team will appeal, so the dispute is not fully settled.
Who is it for?
anyone tracking OpenAI's corporate structure