OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has praised the new Tesla Roadster, a year after he publicly asked for his 2018 deposit back. "Wow the new roadster looks quite amazing, good job @elonmusk," Altman wrote on X hours after the Oct. 15 reveal, EV and Moneycontrol report.
When X user ALX asked Altman, "Did you cancel your order cancellation?", Musk replied with one word: "Indeed." Altman had not responded to either post, EV reported. Whether Altman has a new reservation has not been confirmed.
The refund fight
- In October 2025, Altman posted "A tale in three acts": his July 2018 reservation receipt showing a $45,000 deposit, and a refund email that bounced as undeliverable.
- "7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait," he wrote.
- Musk replied "You stole a non-profit," and said Altman "forgot to mention act 4, where this issue was fixed and you received a refund within 24 hours."
Why it gets attention
Musk and Altman co-founded OpenAI in 2015. Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI went to trial in Oakland this spring; an advisory jury found his claims were barred by the statute of limitations, and the judge adopted that verdict on May 20, EV notes. Musk said he would appeal.
Roadster details: deposits and versions, production in 2028, and OpenAI's humanoid robot plans.
