Sam Altman Testimony Reveals Investment Ties
Sam Altman testimony raised conflict concerns over his $2 billion stakes and Helion tie, prompting traders to reassess Microsoft and supplier positioning.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Altman disclosed about $2 billion in personal stakes, including a one-third Helion holding valued at $1.65 billion.
- Microsoft's $13 billion deals granted deep commercial rights and sizable for-profit influence.
- The testimony compressed governance questions ahead of May 15 closing arguments and May 19 deliberations.
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Sam Altman testified on May 12, 2026 (ET) in Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI, disclosing his personal investments and business ties to companies working with the organization. These details emerged during cross-examination ahead of closing arguments scheduled for May 15 (ET).
Altman’s Personal Stakes and Helion Energy
Altman, OpenAI’s chief executive, serves on the boards of both the nonprofit, renamed the OpenAI Foundation in 2025, and the company’s for-profit arm. He revealed he holds about $2 billion in personal stakes in technology firms that do business with OpenAI. Among these is a one-third ownership of Helion Energy, a nuclear-fusion startup valued at approximately $1.65 billion for his stake. Helion is reportedly in talks to supply electricity to OpenAI’s AI data centers. The connection between Altman’s private holdings and a supplier relationship was a key focus during cross-examination.
Microsoft Investments and Trial Developments
Microsoft invested $13 billion in OpenAI through deals completed in 2019, 2021, and 2023. These agreements granted Microsoft contractual rights, including embedding employees at OpenAI—starting with about 20 and scaling to roughly one Microsoft employee for every 10 OpenAI staff—and participation in major strategic decisions. Microsoft holds a larger stake in OpenAI’s for-profit vehicle than in the nonprofit. The contracts also provide Microsoft post-2025 access to advanced artificial general intelligence (AGI) technology with uncapped commercial returns.
OpenAI was founded in 2015 as a nonprofit with the mission to develop AGI for humanity’s benefit. Musk, a co-founder, contributed tens of millions before leaving the board in early 2018 amid disputes over control and structure. In 2019, OpenAI created a capped-profit subsidiary as commercial partnerships and capital commitments expanded. The for-profit arm’s valuation has been reported between $150 billion and $852 billion.
In November 2023, the nonprofit board voted 4–0 to remove Altman but reinstated him days later after staff threatened to join Microsoft. Co-founder Ilya Sutskever testified that Musk did not oppose a commercial subsidiary but sought control and majority economics; Sutskever left OpenAI in May 2024 after the Superalignment Team was disbanded.
The trial reached days nine and ten with testimony from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Sutskever on May 11. Altman testified for about two hours beginning at 2:05 p.m. ET on May 12. Brett Taylor, chair of the OpenAI Foundation, also testified, continuing the next day. Closing arguments are expected May 15, with jury deliberations scheduled for May 19.
