Tesla CEO Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are embroiled in yet another online feud. The recent episode started on Oct. 30 when Altman recounted his unsuccessful effort to cancel his Tesla Roadster order. He had placed a pre-order for the Roadster in July 2018 with a $45,000 deposit. In 2025, he attempted to cancel and request a refund by responding to the original confirmation email, which resulted in an “address not found” message.

It’s not rare for a company’s email to change over seven years, but it is unusual for a company to retain a $45k deposit without releasing the vehicle for such an extended period. Musk reacted on Nov. 1, steering the conversation away by accusing Altman of “stealing a non-profit,” in reference to OpenAI’s transition from a non-profit to a for-profit model. Musk, who was initially involved with OpenAI, subsequently filed a lawsuit when it changed to a for-profit entity. Musk asserted that Altman’s problem was resolved and that he received a refund “within 24 hours.”

Altman’s timing regarding the cancellation may be questionable, as Musk recently declared that Tesla is nearing a “prototype” demonstration of the Roadster, portraying it as more remarkable than all James Bond cars combined, with suggestions of flying features. Nevertheless, the vehicle was originally scheduled to debut in 2020, so expectations should be moderated.