OpenAI chief Sam Altman’s investments being scrutinized in Musk lawsuit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nOpenAI chief executive Sam Altman is in trouble again after another major revelation in the latest lawsuit against the tech group.<\/p>\n
As Altman faces self-dealing claims from state attorneys general and Elon Musk, as well as a US Congressional investigation, the founder of world-leading AI platform ChatGPIT has a stake worth more than $2 billion in companies dealing with artificial intelligence, a court document has revealed.<\/p>\n
The list of investments was shown in court Tuesday at a hearing in Musk’s lawsuit, which seeks $150 billion in damages as well as Altman’s removal as an executive and board member. <\/p>\n
Musk’s claims include breach of charitable trust and unjust enrichment. Altman has rejected those claims and described in court as recusing himself from important discussions with companies in which he had invested.<\/p>\n
Ten US attorneys general on Tuesday asked the US Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate OpenAI’s documents ahead of its expected initial public offering, and the US House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee last week asked Altman for information on OpenAI policies to prevent conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n
In court on Tuesday, Musk’s lead trial lawyer Steven Molloy displayed a document revealing Altman’s stakes in nine companies doing business with OpenAI and their fair market value as of December 31, 2025.<\/p>\n
OpenAI Company Stake:<\/h2>\n
Altman does not own direct equity in OpenAI, although Forbes estimates he has amassed a net worth of $4 billion through venture capital investments he made before and during his tenure at OpenAI.<\/p>\n
The list of companies with OpenAI deals includes a $1.7 billion stake in fusion power company Helion Energy, a $633 million stake in financial software company Stripe and a $258 million stake in anti-aging pharmaceutical company Retro Biosciences, all of which have OpenAI deals.<\/p>\n
The document also revealed that Altman had sold a stake in Reddit by the end of 2025. According to SEC filings at the time, Altman’s stake was worth more than $600 million on the day the company went public in 2024.<\/p>\n
AI Companies:<\/h2>\n
Other companies on the list include chip maker Cerebrus, people management software maker Degree, now known as Lattice, AI device maker Humane, AI software maker Software Applications and AI pharmaceutical company TrialSpark, now known as Formation Bio.<\/p>\n
He testified that Altman was a friend of Helion’s founders and first invested in the company in 2015. The company, which aims to build the world’s first fusion power plant, generates no revenue but is valued at $5.4 billion in private markets.<\/p>\n
Altman testified that he asked OpenAI’s board to explore working with Helion in late 2022 and they guaranteed it would be a good deal.<\/p>\n
Helion first signed an agreement to secure the energy future for OpenAI in 2024. Altman resigned from Helion’s board in March 2026 as the companies explored the possibility of a larger deal.<\/p>\n
Altman said of the 2024 deal that he was “cut out of it on both sides” and did not sign the agreement.<\/p>\n
Mollo said Altman had a “clear conflict” in leading negotiations for a May 2024 content partnership between OpenAI and Reddit.<\/p>\n
“We decided that the board would approve any final terms,” \u200b\u200bAltman said. “There were other people in the room with me. It was a well-discussed standard corporate rejection.” <\/p>\n
Mollo also questioned Altman about the $10 billion computing deal with Cerebras, in which Altman has a $3.2 million stake.<\/p>\n
“Altman’s conduct to date raises serious legal questions and demands a vigorous investigation,” the attorneys general of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma and West Virginia, all Republicans, told the SEC.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n