7 fascinating facts about Sam Altman’s early life you probably didn’t know

Sam Altman, the visionary behind OpenAI, has become one of the most recognised names in the tech world.

Before revolutionising artificial intelligence (AI), he was already known for his intellect, curiosity, and unconventional path.

From a precocious childhood to bold life decisions, Altman’s early life story offers a glimpse into the making of one of Silicon Valley’s genius minds.

1. A “crazy nerd”

Born in Chicago and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Altman displayed an early obsession with science, math, and technology.

Altman’s friends described him as a “crazy nerd” who spent hours reading about space, computers, and programming.

2. The Mac that changed his life

At just eight years old, Altman received his first computer, an Apple Macintosh, from his parents.

He immediately began taking it apart and teaching himself to code. He has since described the experience as “the dividing line in my life.”

3. Prepping for the apocalypse

Even as a tech optimist, Altman has a practical side. He once revealed he had stocked up on gold, guns, and land in Big Sur as part of his preparations for possible doomsday scenarios.

4. A teenage poker prodigy

During college, Altman became an avid poker player, a skill he says taught him how to make “decisions with very imperfect information,” shaping his analytical mindset for future ventures.

5. Coming out and challenging his school

At 17, Altman came out as gay to his family and classmates. After a local Christian group boycotted a National Coming Out Day event, he delivered a heartfelt speech at his high school, urging acceptance, and received a standing ovation.

6. The “unisexual and tech-y” child

Altman’s mother later reflected on his coming out, saying she had always seen him as “just sort of unisexual and tech-y,” a remark that perfectly captures his unique personality.

7. The Stanford dropout

Altman attended Stanford University, majoring in computer science, but dropped out after two years to start his first company, Loopt, a location-based social networking app.