October 31, 2025 – OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, recently made waves on X (formerly Twitter) by revealing that he had just canceled his pre-order for Tesla’s highly anticipated Roadster electric supercar.
According to a screenshot shared by Altman, he placed the reservation for the Roadster on July 11, 2018. In his cancellation email, he wrote, “Hello, I’d like to cancel my order. Is it possible to get a refund of my $50,000 deposit?”
In a twist of fate, Altman received an immediate automated reply—but not from Tesla. Instead, the email bounced back with a notification from Google stating that the recipient’s mailbox was no longer active, rendering the message undeliverable.
Altman later clarified his decision to cancel the order in the comments section. “I was genuinely excited about this car! I understand delays happen, but waiting for seven and a half years is just too much,” he explained.
The situation takes on an added layer of intrigue given the history between Altman and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The two were once close collaborators, co-founding OpenAI together. However, Musk stepped down from OpenAI’s board in 2018, and their relationship has since soured. Musk has frequently criticized Altman’s leadership at OpenAI in public statements.
Altman offered his perspective on Musk’s departure from OpenAI, suggesting that Musk left because he believed the organization was “not on the path to success.” Reflecting on the company’s subsequent achievements, Altman remarked, “We’ve done pretty well since then. I get why Musk might feel frustrated or envious. If I were in his shoes, I’d probably feel the same way.”
Meanwhile, Musk has forged his own path in the AI arena, launching xAI and developing his AI assistant, Grok. This move set the stage for a competitive dynamic between the two tech leaders. Last August, Musk escalated tensions further by filing a lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI, alleging that Apple’s App Store favors OpenAI in violation of antitrust laws.
