Sam Altman has emerged as a pivotal figure in the tech and artificial-intelligence world. Altman is best known for his leadership of OpenAI. He has taken the startup from the early days to a multibillion-dollar AI powerhouse. Altman has a background as a venture investor and incubator (including his time at Y Combinator), but the focus of Altman’s leadership is on scaling AI, forming partnerships (notably Microsoft), and navigating complex questions about ethics, regulations, and economics surrounding artificial general intelligence. Altman’s decisions and public comments have often made headlines. This is especially true in the light of his changing relationship with tech luminaries and also his business ventures.
What happened between Sam Altman and Elon Musk?
Sam Altman’s relationship with Elon Musk started as a collaborative one, but has evolved into the biggest tech feud in history.
- Musk and Altman were early supporters of OpenAI.
- Musk left OpenAI in 2018, citing conflict (particularly his other ventures), and diverging opinions on how OpenAI ought to proceed.
- Altman publicly rejected this when he stated, “OpenAI is not for sale.” Altman rejected it when he said, “OpenAI isn’t for sale.”
- Musk sued OpenAI Altmann and Altman to claim that they betrayed their founding mission as an organization dedicated to benefiting mankind by turning the organization into a profit-driven operation. Altman and OpenAI responded by saying Musk was more concerned with control than the mission.
- Altman called Musk “a bully” and claimed that Musk was acting out of insecurity. Musk, for his part, gave Altman nicknames as well as accusing him of “swindling”.
This feud is a reflection of deeper philosophical and pragmatic disagreements. Musk emphasizes non-profit, open-source, and safety-first models, while Altman says scaling AGI will require massive resources and hybrid mission structures.
Sam Altman tried to cancel his Tesla Roadster, but he was ghosted
Sam Altman, in a personal and symbolic turn of events, revealed he had cancelled his order for the Tesla Roadster – an EV made by Musk’s firm – and is now trying to recover his deposit.
- Altman made his reservation for a Tesla Roadster in 2018. He paid a deposit of $45,000.
- He shared screenshots of his email to Tesla in late 2025, asking for a $50k refund. However, he received a bounce back and never received a meaningful response.
- I was really excited about the car. But I do understand the delays. “But 7.5 years felt like an awfully long wait.
This may seem like a simple car reservation, but given Altman and Musk’s rivalry, it has gained considerable attention.
Why Sam Altman matters?
- Sam Altman’s OpenAI decisions will determine how AI develops and who controls it. They also impact society.
- Altman’s public spat with Musk is indicative of broader tensions within tech companies as they balance profit, mission, control, and ethics.
- Altman is a bridge between the startup world and large-scale AI. He’s a leading figure in the current debates on tech policy, innovation, and investment.
Sam Altman is a man to be watched. His strategic decisions, his public posture, and the conflicts in which he finds himself are all indicators of the future direction for AI and tech leadership, as well as how the big ideas in Silicon Valley get developed (or challenged).