Elon Musk Invites Mark Zuckerberg to Join $97 Billion Bid for OpenAI: Inside the Billionaire AI Power Play

In a dramatic twist in the AI arms race, Elon Musk, CEO of X and xAI, reportedly reached out to his long-time rival, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, with an audacious proposal: join forces to acquire their biggest competitor, OpenAI.

According to court filings revealed during the ongoing legal battle between OpenAI and Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur approached Zuckerberg earlier this year with a letter of intent, inviting Meta to participate in a staggering $97.4 billion bid to buy out Sam Altman’s OpenAI. The filings state that Musk and xAI were actively seeking to assemble a consortium of investors to finance the takeover, and Meta was considered a crucial partner. However, neither Zuckerberg nor Meta signed the letter, and the deal never materialized.

The Billion-Dollar Gambit

Musk’s motivation was clear: he has long opposed OpenAI’s direction under CEO Sam Altman, especially its shift towards becoming a for-profit entity. Once friends, Musk and Altman are now fierce rivals, with OpenAI surging ahead in the generative AI sector, backed by billions in Microsoft funding.

Since launching xAI in 2023, Musk has positioned his company as a direct challenger to OpenAI. His legal battle with Altman centers on allegations that OpenAI breached its original contract and Musk’s attempts to halt its transition to a for-profit model.

OpenAI Fires Back

In its counterclaims, OpenAI accuses Musk and xAI of orchestrating a “sham bid” that disrupted its business, and alleges Musk has engaged in “harassment” through lawsuits, social media attacks, and press campaigns. As part of its legal strategy, OpenAI has subpoenaed Meta, seeking communications between Zuckerberg, Meta, and Musk regarding the proposed acquisition.

Meta Under the Microscope

The filings also highlight Meta’s aggressive push in the AI sector, with the company reportedly offering compensation packages exceeding $100 million to lure top AI researchers and attempting to poach OpenAI employees. A Meta spokesperson declined to comment on the matter, while Musk’s attorney, Marc Toberoff, did not respond to requests for comment.

The Future of AI: Cooperation or Competition?

Had Musk succeeded in bringing Meta on board, the partnership could have fundamentally reshaped the AI landscape, potentially ending the fierce competition and consolidating power in the hands of two tech titans. Instead, the battle for AI supremacy rages on, with OpenAI, xAI, and Meta locked in a high-stakes race that will define the future of technology.