OpenAI President Greg Brockman Testifies in Musk Trial, Rebuts Claims About Company's Early History

May 6, 2026

OpenAI President Greg Brockman concluded testimony in Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI cofounders in Oakland, California, disputing Musk's account of the company's early history and revealing 2017 negotiations over for-profit restructuring. Brockman reportedly feared physical confrontation with Musk during their disputes. The trial has exposed allegations including that Brockman never fulfilled his $100,000 pledge to OpenAI's nonprofit, held an undisclosed investment in chip startup Cerebras while OpenAI negotiated with the company, and wrote journal entries about converting OpenAI to a benefit corporation without Musk. OpenAI has counter-sued Musk for harassment, and most legal analysts consider Musk's case weak. The dispute unfolds as OpenAI raised $122 billion at an $852 billion valuation and launched a $4 billion Deployment Company with private equity backing.

Musk vs. OpenAI Trial: Key Testimony and Revelations

▪Greg Brockman was an investor in AI chip startup Cerebras at the time OpenAI was discussing a potential acquisition of Cerebras and never disclosed his investment to Elon Musk.
▪Greg Brockman wrote in November 2017 journal entries about being warm to steal the nonprofit from Elon Musk to convert to b corp without Musk.
▪Greg Brockman never followed through on his initial pledge to donate $100,000 to OpenAI's non-profit when it was set up.
▪A jury in Oakland, California is hearing testimony in Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI cofounders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman.
▪Greg Brockman has a stake in OpenAI's for-profit company worth $30 billion.

Strategic Motivations and Impact of Musk's Lawsuit

▪OpenAI has counter-sued Elon Musk claiming harassment.
▪Elon Musk sent an email to Greg Brockman stating that by the end of the week, Brockman and Sam Altman would be the most hated men in America.
▪Elon Musk reached out to Greg Brockman about discussing a settlement in the week before the trial.
▪OpenAI held a $122 billion fundraise at a $852 billion valuation that closed in March.

White House Policy Reversal on AI Model Oversight

▪Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have stepped in to shape AI policy after David Sacks' departure.
▪Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held a productive meeting with Dario Amodei aimed at thawing the Pentagon-Anthropic standoff.
▪AI czar David Sacks departed the White House in March.

OpenAI and Anthropic's Competing Private Equity Ventures

▪Anthropic announced 10 new AI agents built for banks and financial services firms.
▪OpenAI's Deployment Company drew more than $4 billion from 19 investors at a $10 billion valuation.
▪Anthropic raised $1.5 billion for a joint venture anchored by Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman and Goldman Sachs.
▪TPG, Brookfield Asset Management, Advent and Bain Capital led the investment in OpenAI's Deployment Company.
▪Private equity backers of OpenAI's Deployment Company were offered a 17.5% guaranteed annual return floor over five years.

Perspective of Greg Brockman and OpenAI

▪Greg Brockman revealed details about 2017 negotiations over OpenAI's for-profit restructuring during his testimony.
▪Greg Brockman testified in court disputing Elon Musk's account of OpenAI's early years and startup history.