A source familiar with the project’s funding quickly refuted Musk’s claim, assuring Forbes that the $100 billion was secured through equity from the project’s founding partners and co-investors, along with additional debt fundraising. Musk’s accusations were not taken lightly, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, responded sharply, calling Musk’s assertions “wrong” and suggesting that Musk’s focus on personal business interests might be clouding his judgment in his role as advisor to President Trump.
In a further escalation, Musk labeled the Stargate project as “fake” and accused Altman of being a “swindler.” The public spat marks a rare clash between two of Silicon Valley's most influential figures, both of whom are heavily involved in the AI industry. Musk’s criticism also underscores the tense relationship between the tech mogul and the Trump administration, especially in light of Musk's prominent position on the "Department of Government Efficiency" commission, a role that many believe he uses to influence government policy and business opportunities. The controversy surrounding the Stargate project raises questions about the future of the initiative and whether it can overcome the doubts being cast by Musk and others in the tech community.
Elon Musk Critiques Trump’s $500 Billion AI Deal Amid Industry Rivalries:-
Key Background:-
Musk’s Criticism of Stargate Project Tied to Feud with OpenAI
Elon Musk’s pushback against the $500 billion Stargate AI deal is likely rooted in his ongoing feud with OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman. Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 as a nonprofit but left the company in 2018. He later launched his own AI startup, X AI, which directly competes with OpenAI. Last year, Musk sued OpenAI over its shift towards profit-taking. Their rivalry has escalated into public name-calling, with Musk calling Altman “someone who is not trustworthy” in an October interview, while Altman labeled Musk a “bully” in December. Musk’s X AI was most recently valued at $50 billion, a fraction of OpenAI’s $150 billion valuation.
Despite Musk’s criticism of Stargate, his close ally Larry Ellison, a former Tesla board member, is involved in the project. Musk h
as previously praised Ellison as a mentor and “friend,” which adds a layer of complexity to Musk’s stance on the deal.
Meanwhile, stocks of companies tied to the Stargate project saw significant gains. SoftBank’s stock rose 11% in Tokyo, Oracle gained 7%, and technology partners Nvidia and Arm Holdings surged 5% and 15%, respectively, by mid-afternoon on Wednesday.
On the financial front, the companies involved in Stargate saw a significant boost in their stock prices. SoftBank, one of the primary investors in the project, saw an 11% jump in its stock price during Tokyo trading, while Oracle gained 7%. Nvidia and Arm Holdings, both key players in the AI space, also saw increases of 5% and 15%, respectively, as the market responded positively to the deal’s potential.
The backlash from Musk also raises questions about the future of the AI industry, as the rivalry between OpenAI and xAI intensifies. With billions of dollars on the line and the potential for AI to reshape industries globally, the battle for AI dominance has become one of the most high-stakes and publicly visible tech rivalries of the decade. As Musk and Altman continue to exchange barbs, industry experts and investors will be closely watching how this feud influences the future of artificial intelligence.
Oracle Stock Soars as Trump Unveils $500 Billion AI Infrastructure Deal:
Oracle’s stock saw significant gains on the first day of trading during President Donald Trump’s second term, following the announcement of a monumental $500 billion AI infrastructure partnership. The deal, named "Stargate," brings together Oracle, OpenAI, Nvidia, and Japan’s SoftBank to create a massive AI infrastructure project aimed at reshaping the future of artificial intelligence. The initiative, which also involves Microsoft-backed OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, and top AI tech designer Nvidia, promises to revolutionize the industry.
Trump unveiled the project at a White House press conference with Oracle’s chairman Larry Ellison, OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman, and SoftBank’s CEO Masayoshi Son by his side. The Stargate project will see an initial $100 billion investment in U.S. infrastructure in its first year, with a total of $500 billion to be invested over the next four years. OpenAI's press release states that the project will create "hundreds of thousands" of new American jobs.
Son, who will serve as chairman of Stargate, announced that OpenAI would assume operational responsibility for the project. The initiative is funded by OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank, with each contributing to the financing.
“This will be the most important project of this era,” Altman said during the press conference, emphasizing the monumental impact the project is expected to have on both the U.S. economy and the global AI landscape.
References:-
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- Saul, D. (2025a) Musk bashes Trump’s new Stargate AI initiative with OpenAI and Oracle as ’fake’-here’s why, Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/01/22/musk-is-bashing-trumps-new-stargate-ai-initiative-with-openai-and-oracle-heres-why/
- Saul, D. (2025b) Oracle stock surges ahead of $500 billion ‘Stargate’ openai-trump deal, Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/01/21/oracle-stock-surges-ahead-of-500-billion-stargate-openai-trump-deal/
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