OAKLAND, Calif. — OpenAI President Greg Brockman testified Monday in federal court, revealing that his personal equity in the artificial intelligence firm is valued at nearly $30 billion. The disclosure came during the second week of a high-stakes civil trial brought by Elon Musk, who alleges that OpenAI’s leadership abandoned the company’s original nonprofit mission in favor of personal enrichment.
Under cross-examination by Musk’s attorney, Steven Molo, Brockman confirmed that his stake in the ChatGPT creator is worth between $20 billion and $30 billion, despite having invested no personal capital into the venture. Brockman also used the testimony to confirm that OpenAI is actively exploring an initial public offering (IPO). The company was most recently valued at approximately $850 billion following a private fundraising round.
The trial, presided over by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, centers on Musk’s claims of breach of charitable trust and unjust enrichment. Musk, an original co-founder who donated approximately $38 million to the entity between 2015 and 2019, argues that Brockman and CEO Sam Altman executed a "bait-and-switch" by transitioning OpenAI into a for-profit structure. Musk is seeking $150 billion in compensatory and punitive damages, with any proceeds intended for OpenAI’s charitable arm.
During Monday’s proceedings, Molo presented internal documents and personal diary entries from 2017 to challenge Brockman’s motivations. In one entry, Brockman wrote, "Financially what will take me to $1B?" and noted that "it all comes down to the money." Another entry from the same period described a potential conversion to a for-profit entity without Musk as "morally bankrupt." Brockman testified that these writings were expressions of "frustration" rather than a formal business plan and defended the restructuring as necessary to secure the massive computing resources required for AI development.
Brockman also disclosed a $10 million stake in Sam Altman’s family office, which was granted to him in 2017 as compensation. Musk’s legal team suggested this arrangement created a conflict of interest, aligning Brockman’s financial incentives with Altman’s. Additionally, Brockman admitted he never fulfilled a 2015 pledge to donate $100,000 to the OpenAI nonprofit, a commitment he had cited when soliciting funds from other high-profile donors, including former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer.
OpenAI’s legal team, led by Sarah Eddy, countered by highlighting the company’s current structure as a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), established in October 2025. Under this model, the OpenAI Foundation retains a 26% stake in the for-profit entity, valued at approximately $200 billion. Brockman testified that the nonprofit remains the ultimate beneficiary of the company’s success.
The trial is expected to continue through May, with Sam Altman scheduled to take the witness stand the week of May 11. Other anticipated witnesses include Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and former OpenAI Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever.