OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently shared a series of email screenshots detailing his extensive wait for a Tesla Roadster and his subsequent request for a $50,000 refund. The post, which quickly went viral, garnered millions of views and prompted a wide array of responses from social media users.
Altman’s communication began with a booking confirmation email from Tesla in 2018, acknowledging his full payment for the reservation. However, by 2025, after a wait of over seven years, Altman reached out to Tesla to cancel his reservation and request his deposit back.
Adding a touch of irony, the final screenshot revealed that the email address from which Tesla had initially sent confirmation was no longer in service, highlighting a potential disconnect in communication.
Expressing his understandable frustration, Altman captioned his post, “A tale in three acts.” He further elaborated in an update, “I really was excited for the car! And I understand delays. But 7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait.”
The online community had mixed reactions to Altman’s predicament. Some questioned why he would cancel after such a long wait, especially with the Roadster reportedly nearing its unveiling later in the year. Others pointed out the vehicle’s impressive specs, like sub-two-second 0-60 acceleration and a 620-mile range, suggesting he reconsider his refund request.
The situation quickly became a talking point, with comments ranging from amusement to genuine sympathy for the prolonged wait. One user humorously noted, “At this point it’s vintage before it even ships,” while another quipped, “What’s $50K between two billionaires anyway.”
Tesla’s official website describes the Roadster as an “all-electric supercar” designed to maximize aerodynamic engineering for record-setting performance and efficiency.