OpenAI · Tesla · Automotive
Tesla unveils the Roadster Sam Altman gave up waiting for
Sam Altman paid $50,000 for a Roadster in 2018
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reserved the new Roadster, which Tesla unveiled in 2017, in July 2018 and paid the full $50,000 deposit. When Tesla unveiled the car, it said deliveries would start in 2020. The Roadster only returned to the stage on October 15, 2026, and Musk says production will start in 2028, with no price announced yet.
Altman and Musk clash on X
In October 2025, Altman posted “a tale in three acts” on X: his 2018 reservation email, his request to cancel and get a refund, and an “address not found” error from Tesla’s reservations address. “7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait,” he added. Elon Musk first accused Altman of stealing a non-profit, then wrote that Altman left out that he received a refund within 24 hours; the refund could not be independently verified. Altman wrote “can’t we all just move on?” after pointing out that Musk had once wanted Tesla to take over OpenAI.
Sources
- Sam Altman (X), "A tale in three acts": the 2018 reservation, the refund request and the bounced email, (x.com)
- Sam Altman (X), "7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait", (x.com)
- Elon Musk (X), Musk's first reply: "You stole a non-profit", (x.com)
- Elon Musk (X), "Act 4": Musk says the refund came within 24 hours, (x.com)
- Sam Altman (X), Altman's reply to Musk, (x.com)
- Sam Altman (X), Rest of the reply: "can't we all just move on?", (x.com)
- TechCrunch, “Elon Musk wants you to know that Sam Altman got a refund from Tesla”, Summary of Altman's post and Musk's replies, (techcrunch.com)
- TechSpot, “Tired of waiting 7.5 years, Sam Altman tries – and fails – to cancel his Tesla Roadster and get his $50,000 back”, Altman's post and how the reservation payments worked, (techspot.com)
- TechSpot, “Elon Musk accuses Sam Altman of stealing a nonprofit after Tesla Roadster refund dispute”, Musk's replies and Altman's response, (techspot.com)
- TechCrunch, “Tesla reveals SpaceX-powered Roadster that flies and falls with style”, The new Roadster's unveiling; the dates missed since 2017, (techcrunch.com)
- Reuters (Euronext üzerinden), “Tesla’s new Roadster turns in air with SpaceX thrusters, won’t land until 2028”, Production starting in 2028, no price announced, (live.euronext.com)
- Tesla (X), The video on slide 02: "Do a kickflip!", (x.com)
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This story in Turkish: Sam Altman’ın 7 yıl bekleyip vazgeçtiği Tesla Roadster tanıtıldı
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