In a high-stakes legal drama, a Florida resident has taken on one of the world's most influential tech moguls in a lawsuit that could reshape perceptions of business partnerships in the digital age. On November 4, 2025, Ryan S. Wollner filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida against Elon R. Musk and his associated companies: X Internet Corp., Tesla Inc., and xAI LLC. The case alleges breach of an oral contract and seeks compensation exceeding $90 billion.
The roots of this lawsuit trace back to July 2022 when Wollner and Musk first connected through social media amidst their respective legal battles in Delaware's Court of Chancery. Wollner claims he played a pivotal role in advising Musk during his acquisition of Twitter, now known as X Corp., warning him about potential political biases within the court system. According to Wollner, his insights were instrumental in expediting Musk's purchase decision, thereby safeguarding the company from perceived judicial activism.
Wollner further asserts that his strategic advice was crucial not only for X Corp.'s survival but also for its transformation into a thriving enterprise. He recounts how he provided Musk with valuable guidance on revenue generation strategies, CEO selection, and even minor feature modifications to enhance user engagement. Moreover, Wollner claims he influenced Musk's decision to establish xAI, aiming to integrate artificial intelligence into X Corp.'s operations to boost its value.
Despite these contributions, Wollner alleges that his efforts went uncompensated due to an oral agreement with Musk that promised equity stakes contingent upon successful outcomes. He contends that while Musk initially dismissed his plans publicly, he later adopted them verbatim without acknowledgment or remuneration. This breach of trust culminated in Wollner's filing for damages amounting to no less than $90 billion.
In addition to financial restitution, Wollner seeks specific performance of the oral contract—demanding transfer of owed shares—and injunctive relief to reinstate his suspended social media account on X Corp.'s platform. He argues that these actions are necessary not only for personal vindication but also as protection against further exploitation by those who benefited from his intellectual property without consent.
Representing himself pro se (without formal legal representation), Ryan S. Wollner is determined to hold Elon R. Musk accountable through this lawsuit which underscores broader themes around power dynamics within Silicon Valley's elite circles where informal agreements often govern high-stakes collaborations between industry titans like himself and global innovators such as Mr.Musk
The case is being overseen by Judge Angela E.Noble under Case ID: 1:26-cv-00412-JRC at the Southern District Court located at Ft.Pierce FL
Source: 126cv00412_Wollner_v_Musk_Complaint_Eastern_District_New_York.pdf