Sam Altman eyes refund after waiting 7-years for Tesla Roadster
What's the story
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has requested a refund on his reservation for the much-anticipated Tesla Roadster. The request comes after an agonizing wait of over seven years. In a recent post on X, Altman shared his email exchanges with Tesla regarding the reservation and subsequent cancellation process. The first message from 2018 confirmed that his booking was successful and paid in full.
Communication hurdles
Altman's email exchange with Tesla
In a follow-up email sent in 2025, Altman asked to cancel his booking and requested a refund of the $50,000 reservation fee. However, the original address used by Tesla to send the confirmation message was found to be inactive, leading to further complications in communication. Sharing these screenshots on X, Altman expressed his disappointment over the long wait period for the car.
Online responses
Public reaction to Altman's post
Altman's post on X drew a mixed bag of reactions from the public. Some users questioned his decision to cancel after such a long wait, while others joked about the situation. Many comments highlighted the performance specifications of the upcoming model, with one user saying it would go from 0-97km/h in under two seconds and have a range of 998km.
Musk's reaction
Musk's response to Altman's post
In response to Altman's post, Elon Musk said, "You stole a nonprofit," referring to OpenAI's transition from non-profit to for-profit status. He also suggested that the issue with Altman's Roadster reservation was resolved within 24 hours and a refund was issued. This is not the first time these two tech titans have clashed on social media platforms or in courtrooms.