Elon Musk and Sam Altman, two of the most recognized figures in modern technology, have once again found themselves in direct opposition—this time over what began as a seemingly simple issue: a reservation for a long-awaited Tesla Roadster. Their latest public exchange, carried out across social media, quickly escalated into a highly visible sparring match emblematic of their ongoing rivalry, both personal and ideological.
At the center of this digital confrontation lies the OpenAI CEO’s deposit for Tesla’s next-generation Roadster, a vehicle first announced with great fanfare but repeatedly delayed since its unveiling. Earlier in the week, Altman shared a series of screenshots showing his attempt to cancel his pre-order, initially placed in July 2018 with a $45,000 payment. His post, dramatically titled “A tale in three acts,” included an email confirmation of that original payment, followed by additional images depicting his later efforts to request a $50,000 refund—efforts that, according to Altman’s own narrative, were met with a bounce-back message rather than resolution.
In his accompanying comment, Altman expressed both humor and frustration, emphasizing that while he had initially been thrilled about owning the Roadster, the protracted seven-and-a-half-year delay had tested his patience. He wrote that he understood the nature of manufacturing setbacks but suggested that the wait had grown excessively long even by industry standards. His tone was measured, yet unmistakably tinged with disappointment—a subtle contrast to the enthusiasm surrounding Tesla’s early promises.
Musk, ever attentive to public discourse involving his company, responded swiftly via his own social media platform, X. His reply suggested that Altman had omitted a crucial part of the story: namely, that the refund had already been processed. “And you forgot to mention act four,” Musk wrote pointedly, “where the issue was resolved and you received a refund within 24 hours.” The Tesla CEO concluded his message with a cryptic remark implying that selective storytelling was “in your nature,” a phrase that added personal undertones to what might otherwise have been a straightforward correction.
Neither Tesla nor Altman’s representatives chose to provide further comment to Business Insider, leaving the exchange between the two men to speak for itself in the public arena. Yet, the context surrounding this incident extends beyond a single car purchase. When Musk originally introduced the redesigned Tesla Roadster in 2017, he described it in unequivocal terms as “the fastest production car ever made.” The ambitious claim captured global attention, but despite its promise, the vehicle remains in the design development stage years later, as confirmed in Tesla’s most recent shareholder filings.
This long gestation period has not gone unnoticed. Prominent creators and early supporters, including popular tech YouTuber MKBHD, have publicly disclosed canceling their own reservations for similar reasons—primarily, the extensive delay with no confirmed production date. Even so, Musk remains characteristically confident. During a recent episode of the “Joe Rogan Experience,” he reinforced anticipation by referring to the upcoming model as containing “crazy technology,” asserting that the innovations being integrated would surpass almost anything seen in the automotive industry. He even likened the new Roadster to a fusion of every extravagant James Bond car ever designed, claiming that its final demonstration would be “unforgettable” and unlike any previous Tesla product launch.
The interaction over the Roadster deposit is merely one installment in an ongoing series of confrontations between Musk and Altman—a relationship marked by collaboration turned contention. The two were once close allies, with Musk playing a formative role as a cofounder and early benefactor of OpenAI. However, after his departure from the organization’s board in 2018, significant philosophical and operational differences emerged. Musk’s criticism has since centered on what he perceives as OpenAI’s departure from its founding mission of being an open-source, nonprofit research body meant to counterbalance the influence of major tech corporations like Google. In a 2023 statement, Musk lamented that OpenAI had evolved into a “closed source, maximum-profit company effectively controlled by Microsoft,” asserting that this transformation starkly contradicted his original vision.
The following year saw their professional discord move from public commentary into the courtroom. Musk filed a lawsuit against Altman and OpenAI, alleging that the company had violated its original nonprofit mandate through its increasingly commercial partnerships. His legal team subsequently sought an injunction to prevent OpenAI from pursuing further for-profit ventures. OpenAI’s representatives, however, dismissed the claims as “utterly without merit,” and pushed back by releasing what they described as Musk’s earlier internal emails—messages that, according to them, demonstrated his prior advocacy for integrating OpenAI with Tesla, thereby complicating his later criticism.
Most recently, OpenAI announced a corporate restructuring that divides its operations between a nonprofit foundation and a public benefit corporation known as OpenAI Group PBC. This reorganization, Altman has suggested, was designed to clarify governance and reaffirm the company’s broader responsibility to the public, even as it expands its commercial reach.
In many ways, the exchange surrounding the Tesla Roadster symbolizes more than a customer service dispute—it highlights how differing worldviews within the tech sector manifest through public dialogue. Musk, ever focused on engineering breakthroughs and audacious timelines, contrasts with Altman’s more reflective stance on innovation and ethics. Their relationship oscillates between collaboration and confrontation, offering a lens through which to view the broader tensions shaping today’s technology ecosystem—where vision, accountability, and personality often collide in full view of millions online.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-response-sam-altman-tesla-roadster-refund-2025-11
