OpenAI board rejects Musk's $97.4 billion offer

15/2/2025 7:04

OpenAI on Friday rejected a $97.4 billion bid from a consortium led by billionaire Elon Musk for the ChatGPT maker, saying the startup is not for sale.



The unsolicited approach is Musk's latest attempt to block the startup he co-founded with CEO Sam Altman — but later left — from becoming a for-profit firm, s it looks to secure more capital and stay ahead in the AI race.



"OpenAI is not for sale, and the board has unanimously rejected Mr. Musk's latest attempt to disrupt his competition. Any potential reorganization of OpenAI will strengthen our nonprofit and its mission to ensure AGI benefits all of humanity," OpenAI said on X, quoting its Chairman Bret Taylor, on behalf of its board.

On Tuesday, Altman told news website Axios that OpenAI was not for sale. He had rebuffed the offer on Monday with a "no thank you" on X, prompting Musk to retort: "swindler."