Sam Altman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sam Altman
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Altman in 2019
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Samuel Harris Altman
April 22, 1985 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Education | Stanford University (dropped out) |
| Known for | Loopt, Y Combinator, OpenAI |
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Oliver Mulherin
(m. 2024) |
| Children | 1 |
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Samuel Harris Altman (born April 22, 1985) is an American entrepreneur and investor. He is best known as the chief executive officer (CEO) of OpenAI. OpenAI is a company that develops artificial intelligence (AI).
Altman left Stanford University after two years. He then started a company called Loopt. It was a mobile social networking service. Later, he joined Y Combinator, a company that helps new businesses grow. He was its president from 2014 to 2019. He has also been chairman of clean energy companies like Helion Energy and Oklo. As of July 2025, Altman's wealth was estimated at $1.8 billion.
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Early Life and Learning
Altman was born on April 22, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. His mother was a skin doctor, and his father sold real estate. Sam is the oldest of four children.
When he was eight, he got his first computer, an Apple Macintosh. He started learning how to code and take apart computer parts. He went to John Burroughs School, a private school. In 2005, he studied computer science at Stanford University. However, he left after two years without finishing his degree.
Sam Altman's Career
Starting Out in Business
In 2005, when he was 19, Altman helped start Loopt. This was a mobile app for social networking based on location. As the CEO, he raised over $30 million for the company. This money came from investors who believed in his idea.
In March 2012, Loopt was bought by another company for $43.4 million. This happened because Loopt did not get many users.
In 2011, Altman became a partner at Y Combinator (YC). YC helps new companies get started and grow. In February 2014, he became the president of YC. He helped many successful companies like Airbnb and Dropbox. He wanted YC to help 1,000 new companies each year. He also wanted to support "hard technology" startups.
In April 2012, Altman also started Hydrazine Capital with his brother, Jack Altman. This company invests in new technology businesses.
In October 2015, Altman started YC Continuity. This was a $700 million fund to invest in YC companies as they grew. He also started Y Combinator Research, a non-profit research lab. He gave $10 million of his own money to start it.
Creating OpenAI
In December 2015, Altman helped create OpenAI. This is a research group focused on artificial intelligence. He started it with people like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel. OpenAI's goal is to develop AI that helps everyone. They started with $1 billion in funding from founders and investors.
In March 2019, Altman left Y Combinator to work full-time as the CEO of OpenAI. By summer 2019, he helped raise another $1 billion from Microsoft.
In May 2023, after the success of ChatGPT, OpenAI's chatbot, Altman traveled the world. He visited 22 countries and met many leaders. He talked about how to manage AI safely.
Changes at OpenAI
On November 17, 2023, OpenAI's board decided to remove Altman as CEO. They said he was not always open in his communications. Greg Brockman, a co-founder, also left the board.
Soon after, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that Altman would join Microsoft. He would lead a new AI research team there. However, many OpenAI employees wanted Altman back. Over 700 employees signed a letter threatening to leave OpenAI and join Microsoft if Altman was not reinstated.
On November 20, OpenAI announced that Altman would return as CEO. Greg Brockman also returned as president. A new board was formed. On March 8, 2024, Altman rejoined the board of directors.
In May 2024, a former board member, Helen Toner, shared more details. She said Altman had not shared all information with the board. She also mentioned that some executives reported "psychological abuse" from Altman.
Other Projects and Investments
Altman has invested in many companies. These include Humane Inc., which makes AI-powered devices, and Retro Biosciences, a company trying to extend human life. He also invested in Boom Technology, which develops supersonic airplanes.
He is also the chairman of Helion Energy, a company working on nuclear fusion. He is also chairman of Oklo Inc., a nuclear fission company. In May 2024, Oklo Inc. became a public company. Altman stepped down as chairman of Oklo in April 2025.
In March 2024, Altman appeared on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. His wealth was estimated at $2 billion. This mostly came from his investment funds. As of June 2024, Altman has invested in over 400 companies. These investments are worth about $2.8 billion.
Political Interests
Altman has shown interest in politics. He thought about running for governor of California in 2018. He later decided not to.
He supports universal basic income (UBI). This is a system where everyone gets a regular payment from the government. In 2021, he wrote that AI could create enough wealth to fund a UBI of $13,500 per year for every adult in the U.S. In 2024, he suggested "universal basic compute." This would give everyone a share of AI computing power.
On November 18, 2024, San Francisco Mayor-Elect Daniel Lurie chose Altman for his transition team. In December 2024, it was reported that Altman would donate $1 million to the Inaugural Fund for President Donald Trump.
On July 4, 2025, Altman shared his political ideas on X (formerly Twitter). He believes in "techno-capitalism." He said he feels "politically homeless." He also said the Democratic Party no longer encourages new ideas and businesses.
Personal Life
Altman has been a vegetarian since he was a child.
He married engineer Oliver Mulherin in January 2024. They live in San Francisco and also spend time in Napa, California. In May 2024, they joined the Giving Pledge. This means they plan to give away most of their wealth to charity.
Altman is also a "prepper." This means he prepares for possible disasters. He said in 2016 that he has supplies like guns, gold, and gas masks. He also has land in Big Sur he can fly to.
On February 22, 2025, Altman announced the birth of his son.
See also
In Spanish: Sam Altman para niños
