OpenAI co-founder and president Greg Brockman disclosed in court that his stake in the ChatGPT maker is worth nearly $30 billion. The statement came during Elon Musk’s lawsuit over OpenAI’s shift from a nonprofit structure to a for-profit model.
Musk’s legal team questioned whether Brockman’s financial position and ties to CEO Sam Altman affected his independence. Brockman said OpenAI’s mission remains focused on developing AI for public benefit.
Brockman testified during the trial in a California courtroom, where Musk is challenging OpenAI’s corporate changes. He agreed that his OpenAI stake was worth close to $30 billion, a figure that had not been widely disclosed before.
Musk’s lawyer, Steven Molo, pressed Brockman on whether the stake conflicted with OpenAI’s nonprofit roots. He asked, “You just happen to be $30 billion richer?” Brockman replied, “Compensation was certainly secondary to the mission.”
Molo also asked whether Brockman believed the stake breached his duty to humanity. Brockman answered, “No, I believe that we have developed the most well-capitalized nonprofit in human history.”
The court also reviewed Brockman’s financial links to Altman. In 2017, Altman gave Brockman a stake in his family office that was worth $10 million at the time.
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Emails read in court showed that Jared Birchall, who manages Musk’s family office, told Musk the arrangement could give Brockman ‘a greater allegiance to Sam.’ Musk later forwarded the note to Brockman with two question marks.
When asked whether he was loyal to Altman, Brockman said, “I don't know I would say it quite like that.” The exchange focused on whether personal financial ties shaped OpenAI’s leadership decisions.
Brockman also disclosed stakes in two Altman-backed startups. He said he owned shares in AI chip company Cerebras, including during periods when OpenAI discussed buying the chipmaker.
OpenAI has said it plans to spend a large amount on Cerebra's chips this year. Therefore, Musk’s lawyers questioned whether Brockman’s outside holdings created conflicts as OpenAI considered deals with related companies.
Brockman also said he has a stake in Helion Energy, a fusion startup backed by Altman. Altman stepped down from Helion’s board in March because OpenAI and Helion were exploring work together.
Musk alleges that OpenAI, Altman, and Brockman secured his donations and support by promising to build a nonprofit focused on safe AI development. He claims they later shifted toward a for-profit model to enrich themselves.
The lawsuit seeks the removal of Altman and Brockman from leadership, along with $150 billion in damages. OpenAI denies the claims and says Musk is trying to gain control after leaving the company’s board in 2018.
Brockman testified that OpenAI remains controlled by a nonprofit foundation. He also said the for-profit arm operates as a public-benefit corporation, which must consider both its mission and shareholder interests.
The trial could shape OpenAI’s future structure as it expands across AI products, research, and infrastructure. However, the court’s focus remained on whether financial rewards and personal ties affected decisions inside one of the world’s most valuable AI companies.
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