Musk & Zuckerberg: From Cage Match Challenge to AI & DOGE Collaboration

Newly unredacted court documents show unusual communication between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. These messages reveal an apparent collaboration around the cryptocurrency DOGE and a potential joint bid to acquire OpenAI. This unusual interaction comes after years of rivalry in the tech industry, including Musk's challenge to Zuckerberg to a cage match in 2023.

The revelation of these messages has surprised the industry, given the history of public clashes between both entrepreneurs.

According to the documents, Mark Zuckerberg offered to help Elon Musk with DOGE-related efforts. Zuckerberg even ensured that his teams were on alert to remove content that doxxed or threatened Musk's team. This offer of support suggests a shift in the dynamic between the two tech leaders.

Musk responded positively to Zuckerberg's message, which led to the proposal of a possible joint bid to acquire OpenAI.

Musk suggested to Zuckerberg the possibility of joining forces to bid for OpenAI's intellectual property. This proposal comes in the context of an ongoing legal battle between Musk and OpenAI, where the xAI CEO alleges that OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, violated the company's original mission. In February 2025, Musk submitted an unsolicited $97.4 billion bid to acquire OpenAI.

Zuckerberg expressed his willingness to discuss the matter in person, indicating a potential interest in Musk's proposal.

The relationship between Musk and Meta, formerly Facebook, has had ups and downs over the years. In 2016, SpaceX, owned by Musk, was contracted by Meta to launch a satellite that would provide internet access in sub-Saharan Africa, but the rocket exploded. Zuckerberg expressed his disappointment at the failure. This failed collaboration contrasts with the recent willingness to cooperate on matters related to AI and DOGE.

In 2020, Meta donated $1 million to Donald Trump's inauguration fund, marking a positive shift in the relationship between the tech company and the administration.

Musk apparently favored Meta's AI models in some of his DOGE-related work. According to reports from Wired, DOGE used Meta's Llama 2 model to review and classify email responses from federal workers. This suggests a deeper integration between Musk's and Meta's companies in the field of AI.

Meta is heavily investing in the development of its own AI capabilities, offering salary packages of $100 million or more to leading AI researchers.

OpenAI completed its transition to a for-profit corporation in October 2025. Microsoft, its largest external shareholder, gained a 27% stake in the company and retained access to its technology until 2032. This strategic change has been a key point in the legal dispute between Musk and OpenAI.

Musk's lawyers argued that communications with Zuckerberg should not be included in the litigation, claiming they were irrelevant and prejudicial.