Elon Musk wanted $80 billion to create a city on Mars, OpenAI president testifies at trial

Artificial Intelligence Company, OpenAI president Greg Brockman has provided a vivid look into the high-stakes friction that defined the early days of OpenAI.

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According to Brockman on Tuesday, May 5, the push to transition into a for-profit entity wasn’t just about survival; it was tied to Elon Musk’s vision for interplanetary colonization.

“He said he needed $80 billion to create a city” on Mars, Brockman testified, noting that Musk believed he deserved a majority stake due to his business experience. “In the end, he needed full control.”

The courtroom account also detailed a sharp breakdown in the relationship during an August 2017 meeting. 

After Musk expressed his disapproval of a proposed equity structure, Brockman claimed Musk “stood up and walked over so fast he was concerned Musk would hit him.” Instead of a physical altercation, Musk reportedly “picked up Sutskever’s painting and stormed out,” vowing to withhold funding.

As the trial continues, the financial figures involved have reached a massive scale. OpenAI is reportedly planning to spend $50 billion on computing resources in 2026, while Musk is seeking $150 billion in damages to be paid back to the nonprofit. 

Meanwhile, the defense has highlighted Brockman’s own financial motivations, pointing to a 2017 diary entry where he wrote, “Financially, what will take me to $1B?”