In a striking revelation from recent court filings, it has been disclosed that Elon Musk, Zuckerberg Could Partner in Historic AI Deal, potentially worth $97.4 billion. The filing, part of an ongoing legal battle between Musk and OpenAI, reveals that Musk reached out to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg earlier this year in an attempt to finance what could have been one of the most significant artificial intelligence acquisitions in history.
The documents outline that in early 2025, Musk and his artificial intelligence company, xAI, approached Zuckerberg with a formal letter of intent. The purpose was to form a consortium of investors to support a $97.4 billion takeover bid for OpenAI. Although Zuckerberg and Meta declined to sign the letter, the very prospect that Elon Musk, Zuckerberg Could Partner in Historic AI Deal has triggered intense speculation in the tech world about the future direction of AI leadership.
Musk’s Fractured Relationship with OpenAI
The legal battle between Musk and OpenAI has its roots in a once-friendly collaboration. Musk co-founded OpenAI alongside Sam Altman and others in 2015 as a nonprofit initiative to advance safe artificial intelligence research. Over time, however, tensions grew as OpenAI transitioned into a capped-profit company, ultimately securing billions in backing from Microsoft.
Musk, who launched xAI in 2023 to directly compete with OpenAI, accused the organization of straying from its original mission. His lawsuit claims that OpenAI’s transformation into a profit-driven company betrayed its founding principles. Meanwhile, OpenAI has pushed back, asserting that Musk’s efforts—including the attempted acquisition—were harmful, labeling them as a “sham bid.”
Despite this contentious relationship, the court filing demonstrates that Elon Musk, Zuckerberg Could Partner in Historic AI Deal was not just an ambitious concept, but a serious business approach intended to alter the AI landscape.
The $97.4 Billion Proposal
The filings reveal that Musk’s proposal was presented in February 2025. The plan involved raising a staggering $97.4 billion to buy out OpenAI. Musk believed this takeover was necessary to redirect the company toward what he saw as its original mission of prioritizing safe and transparent AI development.
According to OpenAI’s filings, Musk’s legal team issued a letter of intent to Meta and Zuckerberg, inquiring about potential financing arrangements or direct investment. However, neither Meta nor Zuckerberg signed the letter. Still, the idea that Elon Musk, Zuckerberg Could Partner in Historic AI Deal underscores the gravity of Musk’s vision for reshaping the AI industry through powerful alliances.
Why Zuckerberg?
Observers are asking why Musk specifically sought Zuckerberg’s backing. Meta, under Zuckerberg’s leadership, has been aggressively investing in artificial intelligence. The company has not only poured billions into AI research but has also been offering industry-leading compensation packages—reportedly exceeding $100 million—to attract top AI talent.
For Musk, partnering with Zuckerberg made strategic sense. Both leaders oversee technology giants with massive global influence, both are driven by futuristic visions of digital infrastructure, and both see AI as central to their companies’ future. The possibility that Elon Musk, Zuckerberg Could Partner in Historic AI Deal highlighted the strategic alignment of two of Silicon Valley’s most powerful figures, despite their companies traditionally competing in different sectors.
OpenAI’s Counterclaims
As the case unfolds in federal court in Northern California, OpenAI has taken an aggressive stance against Musk. Its counterclaims allege that Musk’s proposed acquisition, combined with his public criticisms and ongoing lawsuits, have amounted to harassment. The company claims Musk’s actions disrupted its operations and were designed to undermine its leadership position in generative AI.
Additionally, OpenAI has subpoenaed Meta to disclose communications related to Musk’s takeover attempt. OpenAI argues that understanding the interactions between Musk and Zuckerberg could provide key evidence about Musk’s intentions and the seriousness of his bid. This legal tug-of-war has only heightened global attention on the possibility that Elon Musk, Zuckerberg Could Partner in Historic AI Deal, even if the partnership never materialized.
Meta’s Silence
Meta, for its part, has remained largely silent on the matter. A spokesperson for the company declined to comment when asked about the filings. This silence has fueled further intrigue. Was Meta seriously considering Musk’s proposal before ultimately stepping away? Or was the outreach never more than a formality?
What is clear is that Meta has its own ambitions in artificial intelligence. By heavily investing in AI systems and attempting to poach OpenAI employees, the company is positioning itself as a serious player in the AI arms race. The revelation that Elon Musk, Zuckerberg Could Partner in Historic AI Deal suggests that, at least at one point, Zuckerberg was seen as a crucial ally in Musk’s campaign to challenge OpenAI’s dominance.
The Broader Implications for AI
The possibility that Elon Musk, Zuckerberg Could Partner in Historic AI Deal underscores a broader truth: artificial intelligence has become the defining battleground for technology companies. With AI reshaping industries from healthcare to finance to defense, the stakes are enormous. A $97.4 billion takeover attempt signals not just business ambition but also the recognition that whoever controls AI innovation could control the future of global technology.
If Musk’s bid had succeeded, the collaboration between xAI and Meta could have significantly disrupted the current AI hierarchy. Microsoft’s close ties with OpenAI would have faced a direct counterweight, while the AI race itself might have accelerated into new, unpredictable territory.
Musk and Zuckerberg: Rivals or Potential Allies?
Historically, Musk and Zuckerberg have not always seen eye to eye. Musk has publicly criticized Meta’s handling of data privacy and expressed skepticism about social media’s role in society. Zuckerberg, in turn, has often positioned Meta’s investments as being more community-driven, while Musk emphasizes technological disruption.
Yet the idea that Elon Musk, Zuckerberg Could Partner in Historic AI Deal suggests that even fierce rivals might collaborate when it comes to seizing control of AI’s future. This underscores the adage that in business, alliances are often formed out of necessity rather than friendship.
The Road Ahead
As the lawsuit continues, the story of Musk’s attempted acquisition remains far from over. Judges will evaluate whether OpenAI’s counterclaims hold merit, and Meta may be compelled to disclose more about its interactions with Musk. For now, the public knows only that Musk saw Zuckerberg as a potential financial partner for his bold AI vision—and that Zuckerberg chose not to commit.
Even if the deal never materializes, the phrase Elon Musk, Zuckerberg Could Partner in Historic AI Deal has already entered the lexicon of AI history. It symbolizes the scale of ambition, the intensity of rivalry, and the enormous sums of money being wielded in the race to dominate artificial intelligence.
Conclusion
The disclosure that Elon Musk, Zuckerberg Could Partner in Historic AI Deal is a reminder of the high-stakes competition shaping the AI landscape in 2025. With Musk launching xAI as a direct competitor to OpenAI, and Zuckerberg steering Meta into heavy AI investment, both leaders stand at the forefront of the technological revolution.
While the proposed $97.4 billion takeover of OpenAI may never come to fruition, the notion itself highlights the scale of ambition driving today’s AI wars. It also underscores the reality that partnerships between the world’s most powerful tech leaders—however unlikely—could redefine the balance of power in the industry.
As the court battle plays out, the world will be watching closely. Whether as adversaries or potential allies, Musk and Zuckerberg have proven that in the race for artificial intelligence dominance, no strategy is off the table. And for many, the possibility that Elon Musk, Zuckerberg Could Partner in Historic AI Deal will continue to fuel speculation about the future of global technology leadership.
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