Every once in a while, even the richest man in the world can use a little help from his friends.
That’s exactly what Elon Musk got when TKO Holding Group CEO and executive chairman of WME Group Ari Emanuel showed up at an Oakland courthouse for opening statements in Musk’s two-day-old trial against Sam Altman and OpenAI on Tuesday.
CEO of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. Ariel Emanuel, left and Elon Musk’s attorney Steven Molo interact outside the courthouse at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building on April 28, 2026 in Oakland. Getty Images Dressed in a white shirt and blue blazer, Emanuel could be seen chatting with Musk’s attorney Steven Molo before entering the courtroom where he listened to opening statements and then watched as Musk testified.
“It’s not OK to steal a charity. That’s my view,” Musk told U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers and the jury after explaining the role he played as a co-founder of OpenAI which was formed in 2015. Musk sued OpenAI’s Altman and Greg Brockman for breach of contract when they changed the startup’s status from a non-profit to a for-profit venture.
As Page Six Hollywood detailed yesterday, several high-profile entertainment industry figures, including Emanuel, are playing supporting roles in the high-stakes trial.
Musk’s testimony is set to continue today along with cross-examination from OpenAI’s attorneys.
