Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is attempting to cancel his 2018 reservation for a Tesla Roadster. After waiting more than 7 years, he’s asking for a refund of his deposit, but the dedicated Tesla reservation email no longer exists. He’s publicly shared his frustration on X.
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Tesla’s $200,000 Roadster: The Elusive Dream Car
The story of the Tesla Roadster goes back to 2017 when Elon Musk unveiled what he claimed would be the fastest production car ever made
, boasting incredible features like cold gas thrusters
. Initially, production was slated for 2020. By the end of 2025, the car has turned into a recurring joke. Musk continues to delay its release annually, recently stating that the Roadster is the icing on the cake
and that other projects take precedence. Meanwhile, customers have been depositing between $50,000 to $250,000 to secure their own model.
A Three-Act Tale
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and now a well-known rival of Elon Musk, is among these customers. On October 31, he posted what he calls a three-act tale
on X. He first shared his reservation confirmation from July 2018, followed by his email requesting the cancellation and a $50,000 refund. The final act was an automated response: the email address reservations@tesla.com no longer exists. I was really looking forward to this car! […] But 7.5 years is starting to feel long,
he added.
A Gauntlet for Refunds
Altman’s situation is not unique. Securing a refund for this phantom vehicle is like running a gauntlet. Tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee shared a similar ordeal. After reserving two Roadsters in 2017, he decided to cancel one. There was no online cancellation option. He spent days leaving voicemails before finally getting through to someone. In the end, Tesla sent him a check for $45,000, keeping the initial $5,000 deposit.
What’s the Takeaway?
More than just a public jab between two high-profile Silicon Valley executives, this incident reveals Tesla’s casual approach to its customer obligations. For nearly eight years, the company has benefited from these deposits as interest-free loans. At the very least, a clear refund process should be in place. The fact that the contact email was simply deleted, with no redirection, is proof of nonexistent customer relationship management. The irony is all the more pointed as Musk claims progress on the vehicle, but perhaps patience has its limits.