Musk hits back at Altman over 7-year Tesla delay
Elon Musk fired back at Sam Altman after the OpenAI chief executive complained publicly about waiting more than seven years for a Tesla he ordered but never received. Altman said he placed a $45,000 deposit in July 2018 for what appears to be a second-generation Roadster, but despite repeated attempts to follow up, neither the vehicle nor his money was returned. He posted email screenshots on X showing his booking receipt, a refund inquiry, and a bounced message indicating his email address could not be found.
Musk quickly disputed the account, claiming Altman omitted critical information. The Tesla chief said the problem was resolved and a refund processed within 24 hours. He also took a sharper swing at Altman by referencing OpenAI’s controversial transition from nonprofit to for-profit status, writing that stealing from a nonprofit was in his nature.
The Roadster was first shown to the public in 2017 and marketed as the fastest production vehicle ever built. However, its release has been pushed back repeatedly and remains in design development according to recent Tesla financial documents.
