Nadella Testifies in Musk v. Altman Trial, Counters Musk's Claims
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella testified that Elon Musk never raised concerns about Microsoft's OpenAI investments and criticized OpenAI's board over Sam Altman's 2023 ouster.
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Overview
Satya Nadella testified in federal court in Oakland that Elon Musk never contacted him with concerns that Microsoft’s investments in OpenAI violated any special terms, concluding several hours of questioning Monday.
The testimony took place in Elon Musk’s 2024 lawsuit accusing Sam Altman, Greg Brockman and OpenAI of abandoning its nonprofit mission and naming Microsoft as a defendant for allegedly aiding that shift.
Nadella told jurors he was "pretty surprised" by Altman’s November 2023 ouster, called the board "amateur city," and said he sought but received no clear explanation for the firing.
Microsoft has invested more than $13 billion in OpenAI, including $1 billion in 2019, $2 billion in 2021 and $10 billion in 2023, and the partnership has generated recognized revenue of about $9.5 billion as of March 2025.
Altman is slated to testify on Tuesday, and the trial's closing arguments are scheduled to take place on Thursday.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources generally remain neutral in their coverage, presenting courtroom testimony and contextual facts without overt editorializing. They quote Nadella and Musk directly, list investment figures and timelines, and frame disputes through sourced statements ("very proud", "steal the charity"). Occasional descriptive phrases like "chaotic few days" are limited and balanced by opposing perspectives.