xAI Faces More Executive Departures as CFO Exits After Just Months
xAI Faces Continued Executive Turnover as CFO Departs
xAI, the artificial intelligence company led by Elon Musk, is seeing another high-level exit: Chief Financial Officer Mike Liberatore has left the firm after only a few months on the job. According to The Wall Street Journal, Liberatore joined xAI in April and departed by the end of July. His brief tenure marks the latest in a series of notable leadership changes at the company.
Key Roles and Rapid Changes
During his short time at xAI, Liberatore played a major role in the company’s financial strategies, steering a $5 billion debt raise and helping secure another $5 billion in equity funding — with nearly half sourced from SpaceX. He also oversaw aspects of xAI’s data center expansion in Memphis, emphasizing the critical responsibilities he held.
- Mike Liberatore, former Airbnb executive, joined xAI in April 2025 and exited by July’s end.
- He was pivotal in raising $10 billion for the company’s development and expansion efforts.
- Oversaw data center projects in Memphis, a strategic move for xAI’s AI operations.
Other Recent Departures
Liberatore is not the only executive to leave recently. xAI’s general counsel, Robert Keele, and senior lawyer Raghu Rao also departed around the same time, according to industry reports. Additionally, co-founder Igor Babuschkin exited last month to launch a venture capital firm focused on AI safety research. These departures follow the resignation of Linda Yaccarino, former CEO of X, in July, which was reportedly linked to concerns about xAI’s Grok chatbot behavior.
What’s Next for xAI?
The wave of high-profile departures raises questions about the stability and direction of xAI during a crucial phase of growth and investment. With leadership turnover affecting multiple departments, industry observers are watching closely for Musk’s next moves and how the company will address internal challenges while pursuing its ambitions in AI development.
