San Francisco: In a major disclosure made during ongoing court proceedings, Greg Brockman, co-founder and president of OpenAI, revealed that he holds a stake in the company valued at nearly $30 billion, along with previously undisclosed financial ties to CEO Sam Altman.
The details emerged during a high-profile trial initiated by Elon Musk, who co-founded OpenAI and is now engaged in a legal dispute with the company. Musk alleges that OpenAI deviated from its original nonprofit mission and transitioned into a for-profit structure that benefits its executives.
According to court testimony, Musk’s legal team questioned whether Brockman’s independence was influenced by financial relationships linked to Altman. Brockman acknowledged holding stakes in startups associated with Altman, including AI chip company Cerebras Systems and fusion energy startup Helion Energy, as well as a share in Altman’s family investment fund.
The trial, now in its second week in California, could have significant implications for OpenAI, the company that triggered the global artificial intelligence boom following the launch of ChatGPT in 2022. Since then, OpenAI has attracted more than $100 billion in investments to expand computing infrastructure, research, and product development, with long-term expectations of a potential trillion-dollar public listing.
Musk is seeking leadership changes at OpenAI, including the removal of Altman and Brockman, along with damages estimated at $150 billion. He argues that early donations and support were based on the understanding that OpenAI would remain a nonprofit focused on safe AI development.
During testimony, Brockman confirmed that his stake in OpenAI is worth close to $30 billion, a valuation not previously disclosed publicly. He also acknowledged a 2017 arrangement in which Altman provided him an equity interest linked to Altman’s personal family investment structure.
Court records further showed internal communications suggesting that this arrangement may have created perceptions of financial alignment between the two executives. When questioned in court, Brockman denied having personal loyalty in those terms but confirmed the financial connections.
Separately, Brockman disclosed investments in multiple Altman-linked ventures, including Cerebras Systems and Helion Energy. OpenAI has previously indicated interest in acquiring advanced chips from Cerebras, while Helion Energy has also explored collaboration opportunities with OpenAI-related initiatives.
Musk’s lawsuit claims that OpenAI leadership misused his early funding—reportedly around $38 million—by shifting away from its original nonprofit commitments and pursuing commercial expansion that allegedly benefits insiders. He has accused the company of breach of charitable trust and unjust enrichment.
OpenAI, in its defence, has argued that Musk’s claims are motivated by competitive interests, pointing to his leadership of AI company xAI. The company maintains that Musk himself was previously aware of the need for commercial funding to scale advanced AI systems and left the organisation years before its current success.
The case continues to draw global attention as it could influence the future governance structure of one of the world’s most influential artificial intelligence companies.
