Elon Musk attempted to enlist rival Mark Zuckerberg in his consortium’s $97.4 billion bid for OpenAI earlier this year, but the Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) CEO declined to participate, according to a court filing revealed Thursday.
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, stated that Musk had approached Zuckerberg regarding possible financing arrangements or investments tied to the proposed OpenAI acquisition. The disclosure came during Musk’s sworn interrogations, where he admitted to the communications.
Musk, whose own AI venture xAI competes directly with OpenAI, has not commented on the claims. xAI also did not respond to media requests outside normal business hours.
In its filing, OpenAI urged a federal judge to order Meta to hand over documents and communications related to any OpenAI bid, including those involving Musk or other potential investors. The company argued that such materials could reveal the motivations behind the bid.
Meta countered that OpenAI should seek relevant documents directly from Musk and his AI startup, asking the judge to deny the request. “Meta’s communications regarding OpenAI’s restructuring or recapitalization are not relevant to this case,” the company said in the filing.
Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Musk must face OpenAI’s claims alleging he tried to damage the AI firm through public statements, lawsuits, and what it called a “sham bid” for its assets.
The legal battle escalated after Musk sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman last year over its shift to a for-profit model. OpenAI responded with a countersuit in April 2025. A jury trial has been set for spring 2026.
