Sam Altman
As the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman has become one of the most influential figures in modern tech. He helped bring ChatGPT to the mainstream, briefly got ousted by his own board, and came back stronger than ever. Now he’s shaping how AI fits into the future of everything from work to government policy.
Profile Overview
Current Position
Chief Executive Officer
Company
OpenAI
Tenure As CEO
2019–present (CEO of OpenAI)
Date of Birth
1985-04-21
Place of Birth
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Financials
Salary (Annual Compensation)
$60,000 (reported base salary; wealth from investments)
Shares in Company
No equity in OpenAI (nonprofit capped-profit model)
Net Worth (Approximate)
$500 million+
Career Background
Previous Positions
President of Y Combinator (2014–2019); Co-chair of OpenAI (2015–2019); Investor in many startups
Academic History
Studied Computer Science at Stanford (dropped out)
College / University
Stanford University (dropout)
Degrees
Computer Science (incomplete)
Board Memberships
Board roles in various startups and nonprofits
Major Career Milestones
Founded Loopt; Led Y Combinator; Took helm at OpenAI in 2019; Oversaw ChatGPT launch
Leadership Style & Achievements
Notable Achievements
Known for scaling OpenAI into a global AI leader
Leadership Style
Visionary, risk-taking, ambitious
Challenges & Criticism
Controversies / Criticisms
Criticism over AI safety, governance, and disputes over OpenAI’s structure
Public Persona
Notable Quotes
“AI will change the world more than anything in our lifetime.”
Books / Published Works
No authored books; frequent essays and blogs
Personal Life & Legacy
Philanthropy
Major donor to Democratic political causes, pandemic relief, and longevity research
Hobbies / Interests
Running, investing, reading sci-fi
Fun Facts
Once carried a nuclear reactor key card as a teenager for a lab project
Let’s Break It Down…
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