TermSheet
Founder at OpenAI

SAM ALTMAN

Sam Altman is the co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, the San Francisco-based AI research and deployment company behind ChatGPT, the OpenAI API, Sora, Codex, and frontier AI model families. Before OpenAI, he co-founded Loopt, joined Y Combinator as a partner, and served as YC president from 2014 to 2019. He is also a prominent startup investor, with publicly reported stakes in companies including Reddit, Stripe, and Helion Energy.

Co-founder & CEOSan Francisco, California, USA
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Sam Altman previewForbesSam Altman

Sam Altman is #1251 on Forbes' 2026 Billionaires list. Read more about Sam Altman, their experience, their asset summary, and more here.

Why Sam Altman Is Now A Billionaire. previewForbesWhy Sam Altman Is Now A Billionaire.

CEO Sam Altman famously has no equity in OpenAI, but startup bets like Reddit, Stripe and Helion have made him a billionaire anyway, a Forbes investigation found.

Sam Altman’s Reddit stake now worth over $1 billion after post-earnings pop previewCNBCSam Altman’s Reddit stake now worth over $1 billion after post-earnings pop

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's stake in Reddit has ballooned to more than $1 billion in value, as of after-hours trading on Tuesday.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stands to net millions as Reddit goes public previewCNBCOpenAI CEO Sam Altman stands to net millions as Reddit goes public

Sam Altman used Reddit every day for years before leading a $50 million round in the online discussion board company. Now Reddit sees ChatGPT as competition.

Sam Altman | Biography, OpenAI, ChatGPT, & Microsoft | Britannica Money previewEncyclopedia BritannicaSam Altman | Biography, OpenAI, ChatGPT, & Microsoft | Britannica Money

Sam Altman is an American entrepreneur who was president of the start-up accelerator Y Combinator from...

OpenAIOpenAI: Testimony of Sam Altman before the U.S. Senate

Supports Altman’s role as CEO of OpenAI and OpenAI’s mission/work description.

OpenAIOpenAI: Sam Altman returns as CEO, OpenAI has a new initial board

Supports Altman’s return as OpenAI CEO in November 2023.

OpenAIOpenAI: Review completed & Altman, Brockman to continue to lead OpenAI

Supports Altman continuing as CEO and rejoining OpenAI’s board in March 2024.

Experience
  1. 2015-12 – PresentCo-founder & CEO, OpenAICo-founder and chief executive officer
  2. 2024-03 – PresentBoard Director, OpenAIDirector on OpenAI’s board
  3. 2014 – 2019President, Y CombinatorLed the startup accelerator and venture platform
  4. 2011 – 2014Partner, Y CombinatorJoined YC after Loopt; later became president
  5. Since 2012Co-founder, Hydrazine CapitalVenture fund co-founded with Jack Altman
  6. 2014 – 2014Interim CEO, RedditBriefly served as interim CEO after Yishan Wong’s resignation
  7. Until 2022Board Member, RedditInvestor and board member; later stepped down before Reddit’s IPO
  8. 2005 – 2012Co-founder & CEO, LooptCo-founded and led location-based social networking company acquired by Green Dot
Investments
  1. Social MediaRedditSocial news, discussion, and community platform.
  2. FintechStripePayments infrastructure platform for internet businesses.
  3. EnergyHelion EnergyFusion energy company developing electricity from nuclear fusion.
  4. MarketplaceAirbnbMarketplace for short-term stays and travel experiences.
  5. MarketplaceInstacartOnline grocery delivery and retail technology platform.
  6. Productivity SoftwareAsanaWork management and collaboration software company.
Profile

Altman combines founder, accelerator, investor, and frontier-AI operating experience. His work building Loopt, scaling Y Combinator’s startup network, and leading OpenAI through major product and infrastructure partnerships gives him unusually strong fit for AI, developer platforms, and high-growth technology markets.

Links
OpenAI
https://openai.comPersonal Website / BlogXLinkedInForbes ProfileOpenAI Senate Testimony