Sam Altman Biography Samuel Harris Altman born April 22, 1985 is an American entrepreneur and investor, best known for his role as the CEO of OpenAI since 2019, though he was briefly dismissed and reinstated in November 2023. He also serves as the chairman of clean energy companies Oklo Inc. and Helion Energy. Altman is recognized as one of the leading figures in the AI industry. He dropped out of Stanford University after two years to start Loopt, a mobile social networking service, securing over $30 million in venture capital. In 2011, he joined Y Combinator, a startup accelerator, and became its president from 2014 to 2019. As of January 2025, Altman’s net worth was estimated at $1.1 billion.
Sam Altman Biography
Sam Altman is a visionary entrepreneur and the CEO of OpenAI, widely regarded as a leading figure in the advancement of artificial intelligence technology. Altman’s career journey, from founding the location-based social network Loopt to steering OpenAI as its CEO, has positioned him among the top players in the tech world. As of January 2025, his net worth is estimated to be around $1.1 billion. This article delves into how Altman accumulated his wealth, examining his strategic leadership at OpenAI, his investments, and his entrepreneurial ventures.
Sam Altman Biography Details
| Born | Samuel Harris Altman April 22, 1985 (age 39) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Education | Stanford University (dropped out) |
| Known for | Loopt, Y Combinator, OpenAI |
| Title | · CEO of OpenAI Chairman of Oklo Inc. Chairman of Helion Energy |
| Spouse | Oliver Mulherin (m. 2024) |
| Category | Politician Biography |
About Sam Altman
Samuel Harris Altman is an American entrepreneur and investor best known as the chief executive officer of OpenAI since 2019. He is also the chairman of clean energy companies Oklo Inc. and Helion Energy. Altman is considered to be one of the leading figures of the AI boom.
- Born: 22 April 1985 (age 39 years), Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Net worth: 120 crores USD (2025) Forbes
- Spouse: Oliver Louis Mulherin (m. 2024)
- Education: Stanford University (2005), John Burroughs School
- Parents: Connie Gibstine
- Organizations founded: OpenAI, Loopt
- Siblings: Jack Altman
Early life
Altman was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, in a Jewish family. His mother is a dermatologist, and his father worked as a real estate broker. Altman is the oldest of four siblings. At age eight, he received an Apple Macintosh computer, which sparked his interest in coding and hardware. He attended John Burroughs School in Ladue, Missouri, before dropping out of Stanford in 2005 after two years of studying computer science.
Sam Altman Summary
| Fact | Detail |
| Full Name | Sam Altman |
| Net Worth | $1.1 billion |
| Primary Source of Wealth | Investments, Entrepreneurship, OpenAI |
| Date of Birth/Age | April 22, 1985 / 39 |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois |
| Notable Ventures | Loopt, Y Combinator, OpenAI, Reddit |
| Major Investments | Airbnb, Stripe, Reddit, Helion Energy |
| Philanthropic Focus | Advancing technology for societal benefit |
Investments in Startups and Companies
Altman’s success is largely due to his ability to identify and invest in promising startups. Through venture capital firms like Apollo Projects and Hydrazine Capital, he has invested in over 400 companies. His investment portfolio includes major companies such as Airbnb, Dropbox, Stripe, and Reddit. Notably, Altman holds 12.2 million shares in Reddit, valued at $1.4 billion as of October 2024, significantly boosting his net worth. In addition to tech startups, Altman has invested in industries like biotech and clean energy, backing companies such as Retro Bioscience and Helion Energy. These investments reflect his dedication to solving global challenges while growing his financial assets.
Personal Life
Sam Altman has been a vegetarian since childhood. He is openly gay, having come out at the age of 17 while in high school, after some students opposed a speaker for National Coming Out Day. Altman had a nine-year relationship with Loopt co-founder Nick Sivo, but they parted ways shortly after Loopt was acquired in 2012.
Altman married engineer Oliver Mulherin at their estate in Hawaii. The couple resides in the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco and frequently spends weekends in Napa, California. In May 2024, they committed to giving away most of their wealth by signing the Giving Pledge. Altman is also known to be an apocalypse prepper. In 2016, he shared that he had a stockpile of guns, gold, potassium iodide, antibiotics, batteries, water, gas masks from the Israel Defense Forces, and a large piece of land in Big Sur that he could fly to in case of an emergency.
Sam Altman’s Net Worth
Altman’s estimated net worth of $1.1 billion reflects his keen investment sense and entrepreneurial leadership. His wealth stems from a combination of his investments, ventures, and role at OpenAI.