New Delhi: Tesla CEO Elon Musk and OpenAI chief Sam Altman have once again locked horns publicly after Altman claimed he had been waiting more than seven years for a Tesla car he booked — a claim Musk swiftly dismissed, saying the issue had been resolved long ago.

Altman Claims 7.5-Year Wait for Tesla Car

In a post on social media platform X, Altman shared screenshots of his email exchanges with Tesla, showing a $45,000 pre-reservation fee paid in July 2018 for a Tesla vehicle — reportedly the second-generation Roadster.

He said that despite multiple follow-ups, he had neither received the car nor a refund, adding that his most recent attempt to contact Tesla resulted in an “Address not found” error message.

Calling it “a tale in three acts,” Altman wrote, “I really was excited for the car! And I understand delays. But 7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait.”

Musk Responds: ‘You Left Out Key Details’

Elon Musk was quick to respond, accusing Altman of leaving out important facts.
“And you forgot to mention act 4, where this issue was fixed and you received a refund within 24 hours. But that is in your nature,” Musk posted on X in a sharp retort.

In a follow-up jab, Musk added, “You stole a non-profit,” referencing his long-standing criticism of OpenAI’s transformation from a non-profit organisation — co-founded by Musk himself — into a for-profit entity led by Altman.

Ongoing Tensions Between Musk and Altman

The exchange marks the latest flashpoint in the ongoing feud between Musk and Altman, who have traded barbs several times over the direction and mission of OpenAI.

Musk, an original co-founder of OpenAI, left the organisation in 2018 and has since accused it of drifting away from its founding principles of open, transparent artificial intelligence development.

Tesla Roadster Still in Development

The Tesla Roadster (2nd Gen) — unveiled in 2017 as “the fastest production car ever made” — remains in the design development phase, according to Tesla’s most recent financial filings.

While Tesla initially promised record-breaking performance and range, the car’s launch has been repeatedly delayed, leaving early reservation holders like Altman waiting far longer than expected.

Despite the refund dispute being reportedly settled, the online spat once again spotlighted the strained relationship between two of Silicon Valley’s most high-profile tech leaders.