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OpenAI CEO and AI entrepreneur
He is the CEO who launched ChatGPT in November 2022, making him one of the leading figures of the AI boom.
Sam Altman is the CEO of OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research organization behind ChatGPT. He joined Y Combinator in 2011 and served as president from 2014 to 2019, funding over 1,000 startups. His net worth reached $3.3 billion according to Forbes in March 2026.
Altman attended Stanford University for two years studying computer science before dropping out in 2005. At age 19, he co-founded Loopt, a location-based social networking app that raised over $30 million in venture capital before selling to Green Dot Corporation for $43.4 million in 2012. He received his first computer, an Apple Macintosh, at age eight and taught himself to code.
Altman married software engineer Oliver Mulherin on January 10, 2024, and they live in San Francisco. The couple adopted a child on February 22, 2025. Born to a Jewish American family in Chicago, Altman came out at age 17 and is vegetarian since childhood.
Was briefly CEO of Reddit for eight days in 2014 after the previous CEO resigned.
Attended the Bilderberg Meeting in 2016, 2022, and 2023.
Named among Time's 'Architects of AI' for Person of the Year in 2025.
His investment portfolio includes stakes in over 400 companies valued at around $2.8 billion as of June 2024.
Co-founded Hydrazine Capital with his brother Jack Altman in 2012, with initial backing from Peter Thiel.
For a long time I said the tech industry's version of a recession is that the annual rate of progress slows down. And I think that's basically still true.
I was wrong about how bad antisemitism, especially on the American left, was.
Nuclear energy is one of the most important areas of technological development.
Dropped out of Stanford and co-founded Loopt at age 19
Joined Y Combinator as partner
Sold Loopt to Green Dot Corporation for $43.4 million and co-founded Hydrazine Capital
Became president of Y Combinator
Co-founded OpenAI
Received honorary doctorate
Became CEO of OpenAI and transitioned from Y Combinator
Oversaw the launch of ChatGPT in November
Ousted by OpenAI board and reinstated five days later after employee and investor backlash
Debuted on Bloomberg Billionaires Index with $2 billion net worth and married Oliver Mulherin
Named among Time's 'Architects of AI' for Person of the Year and adopted a child with Oliver Mulherin