- Sam Altman said he waited 7.5 years for a Tesla Roadster and struggled to get a refund.
- Elon Musk replied saying the refund was processed within 24 hours.
- Musk accused Altman of leaving out key details and reignited old tensions.
- The clash adds to their long-running rivalry over OpenAI and tech leadership.
Elon Musk and Sam Altman are back in the headlines, and this time the dispute is over a car. The two tech figures, once allies in founding OpenAI, have now turned into fierce rivals. Their latest public disagreement centers on a long-delayed Tesla Roadster and a $50,000 refund.
A Refund Seven Years in the Making
Sam Altman recently shared a post he called “a tale in three acts.” In it, he explained how he placed a deposit for a Tesla Roadster back in 2018, excited to own one of the most anticipated electric sports cars. However, after waiting seven and a half years without receiving the vehicle, Altman decided to cancel his reservation and request a refund.
According to Altman, when he tried to reach out to Tesla, his email bounced back. He shared screenshots showing the original reservation, his refund request, and the error message he received when trying to contact the company.
“I really was excited for the car,” Altman wrote. “And I understand delays. But 7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait.”
His post quickly went viral, sparking conversations about Tesla’s production delays and the communication issues some customers have experienced.
Musk Responds and Accuses Altman of Leaving Out Details
Elon Musk wasted no time replying on his social media platform X. He first fired off a jab, saying, “You stole a nonprofit,” referring to his long-standing criticism that OpenAI, under Altman’s leadership, shifted from a nonprofit mission to a profit-driven company.
But Musk didn’t stop there. He also addressed the refund situation directly. “And you forgot to mention act four,” Musk wrote. “That’s the part where this issue was fixed and you received a refund within 24 hours.”
His message suggested that Tesla had already resolved the issue and that Altman’s post didn’t present the full story. Musk’s response added a new twist, turning what started as a complaint about a delayed refund into another episode in their ongoing feud.
From Partners to Public Rivals
Elon Musk and Sam Altman once shared the same vision for artificial intelligence. Together, they co-founded OpenAI with the goal of ensuring that AI would benefit humanity. But as OpenAI evolved into a hybrid structure that included a for-profit division, Musk grew increasingly critical.
He accused Altman and the organization of betraying their founding mission and turning OpenAI into a corporate powerhouse driven by profit rather than open research. Altman, on the other hand, defended the move, saying it was necessary to secure funding for advanced AI development.
Since then, their rivalry has expanded beyond AI. Musk launched his own AI startup, xAI, which he claims will pursue “truth-seeking artificial intelligence.” He has also taken legal action against OpenAI, accusing it of being too closely tied to large tech companies and unfairly limiting competition.
Altman has pushed back, calling Musk’s accusations “remarkable” and hinting that Musk manipulates his own social media platform to benefit his companies.
The Long Wait for the Tesla Roadster
Tesla first unveiled the second-generation Roadster in 2017, promising record-breaking performance and a stunning design. At the time, it was marketed as the fastest production car in the world, with deliveries expected to begin in 2020.
However, production has been delayed repeatedly as Tesla prioritized other projects like the Model Y, Cybertruck, and energy storage initiatives. Musk has recently stated that a new version of the Roadster will finally be revealed by the end of this year, though no firm delivery date has been announced.
For customers like Altman, the wait has been frustrating. The deposit for the Roadster was a hefty $50,000, and while it was supposed to secure early delivery, many have waited years with little communication. Altman’s public complaint reflects a broader sentiment among long-term Tesla supporters who are still waiting for updates.
Beyond Cars: Reputation and Power
What makes this story more than a refund dispute is the personal history between Musk and Altman. Their exchanges have gone beyond professional disagreements and turned into public performances watched by millions. Each post, each reply, and each subtle dig adds to the ongoing narrative of two influential tech leaders fighting for control over how innovation is shaped — one from the world of AI and the other from electric vehicles and space exploration.
For Musk, controlling the narrative is part of his brand. For Altman, calling out frustrations publicly highlights transparency and accountability. The refund may have been processed, but the exchange once again proves that their rivalry is far from over.
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