Sam Altman Demands $50,000 Refund for Delayed Tesla Roadster

BREAKING NEWS: Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has officially demanded a refund of $50,000 for a Tesla Roadster he ordered back in July 2018. In a striking post on X, Altman shared a screenshot of his email requesting the refund, highlighting a frustrating wait of 7.5 years for a vehicle that has not yet been delivered.

The email, which was intended to cancel his order, reportedly bounced back, showcasing Altman’s ongoing struggle to reclaim his deposit. “I really was excited for the car! And I understand delays. But 7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait,” he expressed, underscoring the emotional toll of the prolonged wait.

Tesla’s highly anticipated Roadster was first unveiled in 2017, with CEO Elon Musk promising it would be “the fastest production car ever made,” capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in under 2 seconds. However, production has faced multiple delays, originally slated to commence in 2020. Musk remarked during a recent earnings call that while the design is being finalized, the focus remains on Tesla’s core mission of sustainability.

As of now, neither Tesla nor Musk has responded to Altman’s refund request, raising questions about the company’s customer service as well as the future of the Roadster itself. The delays have not only frustrated customers but also sparked discussions around the broader implications of Tesla’s production timelines.

This incident adds another layer to the complicated relationship between Altman and Musk, rooted in their shared history at OpenAI. Following Musk’s departure from the board in 2018, he has publicly criticized Altman’s leadership, even filing and later withdrawing a lawsuit against OpenAI in 2024. The ongoing tension has drawn significant media attention, and Altman’s recent comments reflect a shift in his perception of Musk, once viewed as a “hero” but now seen through a more critical lens.

As the situation unfolds, observers are eager to see how Tesla will handle Altman’s refund request and whether this will prompt a broader discussion about customer relations in the electric vehicle market.

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story and the potential implications for both Altman and Tesla as they navigate this unexpected intersection of technology and customer service.