Altman rejects Musk’s $97.4 billion bid, counteroffers to buy X for $9.74 billion
February 11, 2025: New Delhi:
The ongoing feud between Elon Musk and Sam Altman has escalated after Musk backed a $97.4 billion offer to take over OpenAI, the artificial intelligence startup they co-founded in 2015. However, in a surprising turn, Altman rejected the bid and counteroffered to buy X (formerly Twitter) for $9.74 billion—just one-tenth of Musk’s proposed valuation for OpenAI.
Musk vs. Altman: Twitter Takeover Counteroffer
Altman took to social media, writing:
“No thank you, but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”
no thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want
— Sam Altman (@sama) February 10, 2025
Also Read: Sam Altman’s Viral Video Resurfaces Amid DeepSeek’s AI Disruption
The statement highlights the devaluation of X, which Musk acquired for $44 billion in 2022.
Musk Strikes Back: Calls Altman a “Swindler”
Unwilling to back down, Musk lashed out at Altman, calling him a “swindler” and reposting an old video in which Senator Kennedy questions Altman about his financial status. When asked, “You make a lot of money, do you?” Altman responds, “No.”
Scam Altman
— Harry Bōlz (@elonmusk) February 10, 2025
pic.twitter.com/j9EXIqBZ8u
This isn’t the first time Musk has questioned Altman’s financial decisions. Last month, Donald Trump announced the $500 billion Stargate project, a joint venture between OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle to develop AI infrastructure. Soon after, Musk criticized the initiative, claiming the group lacked the necessary funds.
Altman Defends OpenAI’s Future
Responding to Musk’s claims, Altman invited him to visit the first Stargate site, which is already under construction.
“This is great for the country. I realize what is great for the country isn’t always optimal for your companies, but in your new role, I hope you’ll put us first.”
Also Read: Elon Musk Angry at Trump For Backing Sam Altman’s $500B ‘Stargate’ AI Project
They don’t actually have the money
— Harry Bōlz (@elonmusk) January 22, 2025
Meanwhile, OpenAI is transitioning from a nonprofit to a for-profit model, citing the need for significant capital investment to develop cutting-edge AI models.
With two of tech’s biggest visionaries at odds, the battle between Musk and Altman continues to reshape the future of artificial intelligence and social media ownership.
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Elon Musk OpenAI bid, Sam Altman vs Elon Musk, Twitter takeover bid, OpenAI acquisition, X devaluation, AI industry battle, Elon Musk feud, Sam Altman counteroffer, OpenAI nonprofit transition, Stargate project controversy