OpenAI's logo is displayed on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen showing photos of Sam Altman (left) and Elon Musk on March 14, 2024.
Mohammad Selim Korkutata | Anatolia | Getty Images
Elon Musk claimed overnight on Tuesday that tech giants OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank don't have enough money to fulfill their high-profile pledge to invest $500 billion in U.S. artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO made the comments hours after unveiling the massive project at the White House on President Donald Trump's first day in office.
"They literally have no money," Musk wrote on his social platform X in response to an OpenAI post about a new project called Project Stargate.
"SoftBank has been guaranteed well under $10B. I have every authority to guarantee that," Musk added.
On Wednesday morning, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded directly to Musk.
"I sincerely respect your achievements and consider you to be one of the most inspiring entrepreneurs of our time," Altman wrote, without responding to Musk's allegations about Stargate funding.
SoftBank, OpenAI and Oracle did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on Musk's claims.
Musk's comments undermined Trump's announcement Tuesday afternoon that Stargate would "invest at least $500 billion" and create "more than 100,000 American jobs almost immediately."
"I think it's going to be something very special. It's going to lead to the biggest thing possible," Trump said.
Trump spoke as he was flanked by Altman, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son.
Ellison said at that event that 10 data centers of 500,000 square feet each are already under construction in Abilene, Texas, with 10 more under construction.
On January 21, 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, accompanied by U.S. President Donald Trump, Oracle Chief Technology Officer Larry Ellison (right) and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son (second from right), Speaking at a news conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. Washington, DC.
Andrew Harnick | Getty Images
Musk, who leads DOGE, Trump's new administration effectiveness advisory committee, has a tense relationship with Altman.
In March this year, Musk and his artificial intelligence startup xAI sued OpenAI, accusing it of breach of contract. Musk later dropped the lawsuit and sued Altman in federal court.
Altman's response to X was consistent with his previous public tone toward Musk.
Asked in December whether he was worried about Musk's influence in the White House, Altman said: "I could be wrong, but I have no doubt that Elon will do the right thing."
OpenAI said in an announcement on Tuesday that Stargate "will begin deploying $100 billion immediately."
The post stated that Masayoshi Son will serve as chairman of the new company, whose initial equity investors are SoftBank, OpenAI, Oracle and Emirates Bank MGX.
News of the infrastructure plan sent Oracle shares up 7% on Tuesday.
OpenAI posts are also listed Microsoft Serves as one of Stargate's key initial technology partners. The company said earlier this month that it plans to invest $80 billion in data centers to support artificial intelligence in the next fiscal year.
Asked about "Stargate" on CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Wednesday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said, "I don't know much about the details of their investment."
Asked about Musk's post questioning Stargate's funding, Nadella responded: "Look, all I know is I'm happy with my $80 billion."