Satya Nadella Hits Back at Elon Musk, Pledges $80B for Stargate AI Project

The $500 billion Stargate AI project by US President Donald Trump started a new debate. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has confirmed an investment of $80 billion in the project after Elon Musk accused major companies of not providing the promised funds.

On CNBC, Nadella clarified his position: “I’m good for my $80 billion. I will spend it building out Azure, ensuring OpenAI models are available globally. Customers can count on Microsoft to deliver.” Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI, is listed as one of the project’s initial partners.

The Stargate AI project, which Trump has called “a declaration of confidence in America’s potential,” is set to begin with a $100 billion private investment. Key players include OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Oracle’s Larry Ellison, and SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son.

Reacting to Nadella’s statement, Musk said on Thursday, “Satya definitely does have the money,” while reiterating his earlier claim that SoftBank has under $10 billion available to invest.

In response, Sam Altman pushed back on Musk’s criticism, inviting him to visit a project site already in progress. Altman wrote on X, “This is great for the country. I hope in your new role, you’ll put [the United States] first.”

The Stargate AI project has become a hot topic, drawing sharp remarks and big commitments from some of the world’s most influential tech leaders. As the drama unfolds, all eyes are on how this ambitious initiative will take shape.