TLDR: Court filings reveal that Elon Musk approached Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in early 2025 to discuss a potential $97 billion acquisition of OpenAI. The bid, which aimed to take control of the ChatGPT maker, ultimately did not materialize as neither Zuckerberg nor Meta signed a letter of intent.
In a significant development in the ongoing landscape of artificial intelligence, recent court filings have brought to light a high-stakes proposal by Elon Musk to acquire OpenAI, the company behind the popular ChatGPT. According to reports, Musk, founder of xAI and CEO of X, met with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in early 2025 to discuss a massive $97 billion (or $97.4 billion) takeover of Sam Altman’s OpenAI. This revelation emerged from court documents related to the legal battle between OpenAI and Elon Musk, where OpenAI stated that Musk and xAI attempted to form a consortium of investors to finance the acquisition.
Musk’s motivation for the proposed acquisition reportedly stemmed from his strong opposition to OpenAI’s strategic direction, particularly its transition towards a for-profit entity. This stance highlights the deepening rivalry between Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who were once close friends but have become adversaries as OpenAI gained prominence in generative AI with substantial backing from Microsoft.
During their meeting, Musk reportedly presented Zuckerberg with a letter of intent, seeking potential financing arrangements or investments to support his bid. However, the court filings indicate that neither Mark Zuckerberg nor Meta ultimately signed the letter of intent, suggesting that the ambitious takeover attempt did not proceed.
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Had Musk’s efforts been successful, a partnership between Meta and xAI to acquire OpenAI could have dramatically reshaped the AI industry, potentially eliminating a major competitor and altering the trajectory of the ‘AI race.’ The legal dispute continues, with OpenAI reportedly seeking court orders to compel the disclosure of communications and financing details related to these discussions, underscoring the intense tensions between the nonprofit origins and commercial ambitions within the AI sector.
