Sam Altman is an American entrepreneur and investor, best known as the CEO of OpenAI since 2019.
He co-founded Loopt, a location-based social networking mobile application and served as its CEO, raising over $30 million in venture capital.
In 2011, Altman joined Y Combinator, a startup accelerator, and became its president from 2014 to 2019.
He is also the CEO of OpenAI, a non-profit artificial intelligence research organization he co-founded with Elon Musk in 2015.
Altman is openly gay and married to Australian software engineer Oliver Mulherin.
He is also a prepper, with a stash of guns, gold and other survival supplies.
In 2018, Altman considered running for Governor of California but did not enter the race.
He is known for his belief in the potential of artificial general intelligence (AGI) and his advocacy for land value taxation and universal basic income.
Net worth | $2 billion |
Profession | Entrepreneur, investor |
Date of birth | April 22, 1985 |
Nationality | American |
Background
Altman, born on April 22, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois, is an American entrepreneur and investor.
He was raised in St. Louis, Missouri, in a Jewish family with a dermatologist mother and a real estate broker father.
Altman has three siblings.
At the age of eight, he received his first computer, an Apple Macintosh, and began to learn how to code and take apart computer hardware.
Altman attended John Burroughs School, a private school in Ladue, Missouri.
In 2005, after two years at Stanford University studying computer science, he dropped out without earning a bachelor’s degree.
Net worth
Altman’s net worth of $2 billion, as reported by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, does not include any contribution from his AI startup OpenAI, where he serves as CEO.
His wealth primarily comes from his venture capital funds and startup investments, including a $1.2 billion investment in a set of venture capital funds with variations on the name Hydrazine.
Altman also owns 8.7% of Reddit, which is planning an IPO with a valuation of up to $6.5 billion.
His net worth is expected to grow with the initial public offering of Reddit.
Despite being one of the core founders of OpenAI, Altman has asserted multiple times that he does not hold any stake in the company.
Angel investing
Altman has been actively investing for many years and has made over 100 investments, some of which include Stripe, Reddit and Airbnb.
His investment in Reddit’s IPO ranks near the top of his angel wins, with the listing being the second-largest exit from his portfolio.
Altman has emphasized the importance of not missing out on potential investments, as the real risk is missing out on the one investment that could yield significant returns.
He has been involved in various startups, including Loopt, Y Combinator, and OpenAI, where he currently serves as CEO.
Altman’s investments span various sectors, and he has been recognized for his contributions to the tech industry, being featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for venture capital in 2015.
OpenAI
Altman has been deeply involved with OpenAI, co-founding the organization and serving as its CEO.
His leadership has been instrumental in propelling OpenAI into the forefront of AI innovation, securing significant venture capital funding for the company.
Despite his contributions, Altman faced a controversial situation when he was fired by OpenAI’s board over concerns about his communication and leadership style, leading to his reinstatement after an outside investigation concluded that his removal was a consequence of a breakdown in trust rather than misconduct.
This reinstatement highlighted the significant support he had within the company, with many threatening to resign unless he returned to his role, including board chair Greg Brockman.
Altman’s journey with OpenAI has been marked by both success in advancing AI technology and challenges related to governance and leadership dynamics within the organization.
Y Combinator
Altman’s stint at Y Combinator was significant, as he began as a part-time partner in 2011 and was named president by co-founder Paul Graham in 2014.
During his tenure, he played a crucial role in shaping the tech industry in Silicon Valley, investing in over 200 startups, including Airbnb, Dropbox and Reddit.
Altman’s leadership extended beyond Y Combinator, as he also served as the CEO of Loopt and co-founded OpenAI, a nonprofit organization focused on artificial intelligence research and development.
His impact at OpenAI has been substantial, with the organization leading in AI innovation.
Despite his accomplishments, Altman’s departure from Y Combinator was not without controversy, as he was fired by the board over concerns about his commitment to the company and his pursuit of outside interests.
However, his leadership and influence in the tech industry continue to make him a valuable asset to the entrepreneurial community.
Reddit stake
Altman’s stake in Reddit is estimated to be around 1.66 million shares, which could be worth between $51.4 million and $56.4 million based on the company’s target share price of $31 to $34 for its IPO.
His ownership is part of entities affiliated with him, such as Hydrazine Capital II and Apollo Projects SPV-B, which collectively own an 8.7% stake in Reddit.
While Altman’s stake is substantial, it is not as high as initially reported, with headlines suggesting a much larger ownership percentage and value.
The clarification provided in Reddit’s S-1 filing outlines that Altman disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares, indicating that they are held by various investment entities associated with him.
Car collection
Altman’s car collection includes a $20 million McLaren F1, of which he owns two,and a Lexus LFA.
He is also a fan of electric cars, particularly Tesla, owning a Roadster (1st-gen) and a Model S Plaid.
Altman’s McLaren F1, valued at over $20 million, is a standout in his collection.
This supercar, with a 6.1-liter V12 engine producing 627 PS, can reach a top speed of 386 kmph and accelerate from 0-100 in just 3.2 seconds.
Notably, the McLaren F1 is a three-seater supercar, designed by Gordon Murray, and only 67 road-going models were ever produced.
Altman’s car collection reflects his passion for luxury and speed, showcasing his appreciation for automotive artistry and cutting-edge technology.
Real estate
Altman has an impressive real estate portfolio, having spent $85 million on properties in San Francisco, Napa and Hawaii between early 2020 and mid-2021.
His Hawaii estate, acquired in July 2021, is particularly notable, spanning 12 bedrooms in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island and located adjacent to a national landmark, the royal temple of King Kamehameha I.
Altman’s real estate purchases reflect the lifestyle of Silicon Valley titans, with many of his peers, including Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison, Marc Benioff, Jeff Bezos and Peter Thiel, also owning substantial properties in Hawaii.
His Napa retreat, a 950-acre working ranch with five homes and vineyards, is another significant property in his portfolio.
Altman’s San Francisco home, purchased in March 2020, serves as the base for various investment vehicles.
His real estate portfolio, including properties in San Francisco, Hawaii, Big Sur and Napa, highlights his appreciation for luxury and privacy.
Early career
Altman began his career by co-founding Loopt, a location-based social networking mobile application, in 2005.
He later joined Y Combinator in 2011, a startup accelerator, and eventually became its president from 2014 to 2019.
Altman’s involvement in Y Combinator marked a significant period in his career, where he played a pivotal role in nurturing and supporting numerous startups.
Additionally, he briefly served as the interim CEO of Reddit for eight days in 2014.
Altman’s tenure at Y Combinator and his brief stint at Reddit provided him with valuable experience and insights into the tech industry, setting the stage for his future endeavors in the field of artificial intelligence and investment.
Breakthrough and achievements
Altman’s breakthrough and achievements include his role as CEO of OpenAI, a non-profit artificial intelligence research organization he co-founded with Elon Musk in 2015.
His leadership at OpenAI has been marked by his unique fundraising prowess and science-driven ideas, which have helped the company become a multibillion-dollar phenomenon.
Altman is known for his belief in the potential of artificial general intelligence (AGI) and his advocacy for land value taxation and universal basic income.
His net worth of $2 billion, as reported by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, does not include any contribution from OpenAI, as he does not own any equity in the firm.
Altman’s wealth primarily comes from his venture capital funds and startup investments, including a $1.2 billion investment in a set of venture capital funds with variations on the name Hydrazine.
He also owns 8.7% of Reddit, which is planning an IPO with a valuation of up to $6.5 billion.
Altman’s net worth is expected to grow with the initial public offering of Reddit.
Awards and accolades
Altman has received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to the tech industry.
In 2017, GLAAD honored him with the Ric Weiland Award for advancing LGBTQ acceptance in the tech industry.
In 2023, Time recognized Altman multiple times for his role in the AI boom, but he did not enter the 2018 California gubernatorial race as previously reported.
Altman is also known for his support of basic income and land value taxation.
In 2023, he was named Time’s CEO of the Year, although he expressed relief at not being named Time’s Person of the Year due to the unwanted attention that comes with it.
Altman’s influence extends beyond the tech industry, as he has held fundraisers for political candidates and advocated for policy changes in housing and healthcare.
Philanthropic efforts
Altman’s philanthropic efforts include his involvement in the Giving Pledge, a commitment by some of the world’s wealthiest individuals to donate the majority of their wealth to charitable causes during their lifetime or in their will.
Altman has pledged to donate a significant portion of his wealth to philanthropic causes, although the specific details of his pledge are not publicly disclosed.
Additionally, Altman has expressed his passion for philanthropy and the potential of artificial intelligence to make a significant impact in global philanthropy.
He has also been working on a data-driven ecosystem, Philanthropy International, that harnesses the power of AI to solve global philanthropy challenges.
Altman’s philanthropic efforts reflect his commitment to using his resources and expertise to make a positive impact on society.
Personal life
Altman is in a relationship with Oliver Mulherin, an Australian programmer.
The two first appeared together at a White House event in early 2023, which was a state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modhi.
They reside together in a San Francisco home on weekdays and retreat to a remodeled house on a private ranch in California on weekends.
Altman’s previous nine-year relationship with Nick Sivo, with whom he co-founded the startup Loopt, ended in 2012 after they sold the company.
Altman and Mulherin tied the knot a few months ago, and the news leaked in January.
Sam Altman vs Elon Musk
Altman and Elon Musk have a complicated relationship that has evolved over time.
They co-founded OpenAI together in 2015, but Musk left the board in 2018, citing potential conflicts of interest with his work at Tesla.
Since then, Musk has frequently criticized OpenAI, and in 2024, he sued the company, Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman, alleging that OpenAI’s direction in recent years has violated its founding principles.
Musk claims that OpenAI has become a closed-source, for-profit company effectively controlled by Microsoft, while Altman has defended OpenAI’s direction and called Musk a “jerk” but acknowledged that he cares about the future of AGI.
Despite their differences, Altman has also called Musk one of his heroes and said that he has learned valuable lessons from him.
The feud between the two tech leaders has been ongoing for several years, with each taking public jabs at each other on social media and in interviews.