Sam Altman confronted pointed questions Tuesday about his private monetary ties to Helion Power, the Everett, Wash., fusion startup that’s aiming to produce huge quantities of power to each OpenAI and Microsoft to energy future knowledge facilities for synthetic intelligence.
Testifying within the Musk v. Altman trial in Oakland, the OpenAI CEO confirmed underneath cross-examination that he owns roughly one-third of Helion, a stake valued at roughly $1.65 billion as of late 2025, in keeping with monetary disclosures within the case.
Altman, who left the Helion board in March, mentioned he persistently recused himself from OpenAI’s dealings with the fusion firm. Requested by Musk’s lawyer Steven Molo to clarify what that meant in actuality, Altman mentioned it lined “the choice to proceed and the ultimate approval of phrases.”
He famous that OpenAI has by no means purchased or acquired any energy from Helion however mentioned a 2024 settlement was “a manner for us to have the chance to do this sooner or later.” Altman mentioned he was conscious of a second settlement in March 2026 however was not accustomed to its particulars.
He acknowledged that “an enormous share” of his time at OpenAI is spent securing power and compute assets, which he was beforehand doing whereas additionally chairing Helion’s board.
Helion has individually agreed to promote energy from its first business fusion plant, underneath building in central Washington, to Microsoft beginning in 2028. Microsoft, OpenAI’s longstanding accomplice and one in every of its largest buyers, can also be a defendant within the case.
It was a part of a broader argument by Musk’s lawyer that Altman used his place at OpenAI to spice up the worth of his private investments. Monetary disclosures within the case confirmed that Altman has a stake of greater than $2 billion in firms that do enterprise with OpenAI.
Musk alleges within the lawsuit that Altman and different OpenAI leaders secured his donations to discovered OpenAI as a nonprofit earlier than changing it right into a for-profit enterprise, enriching themselves within the course of. OpenAI and Microsoft, which can also be a defendant, have countered that Musk supported the conversion and sought unilateral management of the corporate for himself.
Molo additionally pressed Altman on his position negotiating a $200 million knowledge deal between OpenAI and Reddit whereas holding a major private stake within the social media firm. Altman mentioned the deal arose from mediation underneath menace of authorized motion and that the board requested him to take part as a result of he had probably the most context.
The conflict-of-interest questions prolong past the courtroom.
The Home Oversight Committee despatched Altman a letter on Might 8 requesting paperwork associated to OpenAI’s dealing with of potential conflicts, citing the Helion relationship particularly.
Within the letter, the Oversight Committee mentioned it needed to make sure that “funds donated for charitable functions usually are not diverted for unintended makes use of, resembling artificially rising the market worth of different firms wherein an govt or board member could maintain an curiosity.”
A gaggle of Republican state attorneys basic individually known as on the SEC to scrutinize the problem forward of OpenAI’s deliberate IPO, the Wall Avenue Journal reported.
In an announcement to GeekWire, a Helion spokesperson known as Altman a longtime champion of the corporate and expressed gratitude for his help, management and funding.
“As Sam has shared, he recused himself from a possible deal between Helion and OpenAI,” the spokesperson mentioned. “Additional, Sam stepped down from the board in March to permit the businesses to discover future partnerships to carry zero-carbon, protected electrical energy to the world.”
Helion just isn’t the one native firm caught up within the concern. The WSJ additionally reported that Altman final summer time approached Kent, Wash.-based rocket maker Stoke House about partnering with OpenAI on knowledge facilities in area. Altman is an investor in Stoke by his household workplace.
Helion, based in 2013, is creating know-how to generate electrical energy from nuclear fusion, the method that powers the solar. No firm has but demonstrated that fusion can produce commercially viable energy, however Helion has raised greater than $1 billion from buyers and broke floor final summer time on its first plant in Malaga, Wash.
Altman has been one of many firm’s largest backers, personally investing $375 million in a $500 million spherical in 2021 and becoming a member of as board chairman in 2015, shortly after recruiting the corporate into the Y Combinator startup accelerator.
The Helion questions have been a part of a wide-ranging day on the stand for Altman. He additionally sparred with Musk’s lawyer over accusations of dishonesty from former colleagues and defended his resolution to return to OpenAI after being fired by the board in November 2023 — saying he was “keen to run again right into a burning constructing” to attempt to save the corporate and its mission.
GeekWire reported on right now’s proceedings through the court docket’s audio livestream. Up to date after publication with Helion’s assertion.
