openai news

The gist of the story

It has just been revealed by Sam Altman, the head of OpenAI, that he ordered Tesla's next-generation Roadster back in 2018-paying the initial deposit of about US$45,000.

In October 2025, he posted on social media that after waiting about 7.5 years for the vehicle, he'd asked to cancel the order and get a full refund (he requested ~$50 000).

The twist: Elon Musk replied publicly, saying that Altman had gotten a refund “within 24 hours” of requesting it — accusing Altman of leaving out this “act 4” in his post.

So, at a high level: a high-profile deposit, an extremely long wait, a request for a refund, and some public sniping between two big tech figures.

What actually happened: timeline & details

Reservation and delay

Tesla unveiled the still-future Roadster first back in 2017, claiming incredible performance-0-60 mph in less than 2 seconds and a range of about 620 miles. Business Standard+2International Business Times UK+2

Altman's screenshot shows that, in July 2018 Tesla confirmed receipt of his reservation payment. The Indian Express+1

Over the years, production kept getting delayed. Tesla’s own statements described the car as “design development” and said other products had higher priority. Business Standard+1

Attempting cancellation/ refund

On October 30, 2025, Altman posted "A tale in three acts" showing :

The 2018 confirmation of payment.

An email from him in 2025 : “Hi, I’d like to cancel my reservation. Could you please refund me the $50K?”

He attaches a screenshot of the failed email bounce-back, address “reservations@tesla.com” showing “Address not found,” which indicated that he couldn’t reach the reservation address anymore.

The implication: after 7½ years waiting, he says the car never arrived and he is seeking his money back.

Tesla’s own reservation terms reportedly state that the deposit is “fully refundable … until you enter into the Motor Vehicle Purchase Agreement.”

Musk's reply

Musk replied on X: "And you forgot to mention act 4, where this issue was fixed and you received a refund within 24 hours." He insinuated that Altman got the refund but did not mention it.

The public narrative splits here: Altman says he's still trying to get the refund, while Musk says it's already done.

Why this matters

1. It highlights Tesla's continuing delays.

The Roadster was promised for 2020 originally, and it has kept slipping. In Altman's case, a 7½-year wait has been enough to make even a high-profile customer like him push back. This all speaks to broader concerns about Tesla's ability to deliver on some of its most ambitious promised products.

2. Public spat between two tech giants

Altman and Musk's history is complicated: Musk was an early backer of OpenAI, then left the board; their relationship has soured. The Roadster incident becomes a proxy battleground for wider disagreements around business practices, credibility, mission drift, etc. Musk's public jab underlines a personal dimension to it.

3. What it signals to consumers/reservation-holders

If someone like Altman-with deep pockets and a public platform-is raising this issue, it may embolden other Roadster depositors to voice frustrations or seek refunds. It raises legitimacy questions: what do you do with your money in the meantime, how long do you wait, etc.?

4. Credentials and reputations

For Musk and Tesla, reputation is important - especially in new product launches and investor confidence. A story of “elite customer puts down tens of thousands, car doesn’t show, cannot get refund” isn’t a good look. Meanwhile, with Altman and OpenAI, a narrative that he was wronged by a peer could have implication for his public profile.

Unpacking key questions

Did Altman actually get a refund, as Musk says?

It's ambiguous: Musk says he did; Altman implies that he hasn't, or at least didn't believe it was properly handled. Without publicly verified proof the transaction occurred in full, which I could find, the answer is somewhere between "maybe yes" and "maybe not yet fully resolved."

Why is it important whether the refund took place?

If Altman already got refunded, then his public claim may be more about highlighting the delay and poor communication rather than actual monetary loss.

If he hasn't, it suggests Tesla is still off the hook and may owe depositors redress.

Either way, it would put the reservation/refund process of Tesla in the spotlight and invite regulatory consumer-protection scrutiny.

How about the deposit terms?

Tesla's reservation terms say the deposit is "fully refundable" until you sign the final purchase agreement.  But here's the problem: if there's no clear schedule for the final agreement-that is, production keeps getting delayed-then paying a large deposit entails a risk.

Could Altman have waited longer?

Some posting within Tesla/ EV enthusiast communities suggests that the delay in cancelling might have been for strategic publicity or that wait times are understood/accepted amongst Tesla early reservation culture. But 7½ years is an exceptionally long time.

Broader implications

For Tesla

Risk of backlash: With a number of depositors wanting refunds, Tesla may be met with a wave of claims, reputational risk, and maybe funding/including cash-flow consequences if many people want their money back.

Product credibility: The Roadster has long been the "halo car" for Tesla. Further delays or negative headlines could dampen the halo effect.

Investor sentiment: While Tesla has other strong product lines, the narrative of over-promise and under-deliver can affect faith in future launches beyond the Roadster.

For customers & reservation-holders

Reservation model risk: Paying big deposits many years in advance carries risk - especially as timelines stretch. As a consumer, one also has to factor in delay risk, refund risk, and alternative use of money. Importance of transparency: Tesla will, in all probability, face increased pressure to give more precise updates, timelines, or refund options. Public awareness: Such highlighted cases raise the visibility of this issue among general consumers, who may now question the trade-off between being an early adopter/reserver versus waiting for production. For Musk vs. Altman as public figures This is another chapter in their public tug-of-war. Altman's bait-or genuine complaint-uses social media to highlight Musk/Tesla's shortcomings. Musk's response uses the refund claim to point to Altman's omission and cast doubt on his credibility. To the wider tech audience, this story plays into dialogues of leadership, responsibility, transparency in high-tech projects, and how founders deal with delays and accountability. What happens next? Clarification/follow-up: We might see Tesla or Altman (or both) provide clearer documentation of whether the refund was made, how much, and under what terms. Impact on other depositors: Others who reserved the Roadster may do the same: publicly request refunds or inquire about timelines or cancel their orders. Tesla's product cadence: Musk has teased a "most epic demo ever" for the Roadster due later in 2025. How this lines up with depositors' expectations will matter-if delivery timeline remains vague, frustration may mount. Reputation & trust: Broader brand trust in Tesla-and by extension Musk-is likely affected, particularly for those who are still looking to reserve high-ticket future models. My take To me, this story isn't as about the $45-50 k as it is about the symbolism and optics. Altman is using his significant platform to amplify what so many reservations feel: "We're waiting. We paid. Where is the product?" Musk's rapid response would indicate he recognizes the reputational risk and wishes to frame the narrative: "We handled it. Act 4 happened. Don't ignore that." But whether Act 4 actually happened-or wholly-remains opaque, and until it is settled, so does the cloud of "did they or didn't they". For Tesla, the credibility in its high-end model launches is important. Each public slip amplifies risk of smaller margins, lower trust, and stronger consumer pushback. For customers, this has been a real-world lesson: early reservation means early risk. Closing remarks Yes, the headline “Elon Musk wants you to know that Sam Altman got a refund for his Tesla Roadster” is largely a reflection of Musk’s claim — but that claim is contested. The underlying story, however, reflects bigger dynamics: allegiance, accountability, promise vs delivery, and the increasingly public theatre of tech-founder rivalry. The Altman-Roadster saga is worth bearing in mind for anyone contemplating making a big deposit on a future Tesla - indeed, any major pre-order.