The career rise of OpenAI Billionaire CEO Sam Altman

Sam Altman has gone from a tech-savvy kid in St. Louis to one of the most influential CEOs of the AI era. Fascinated by computers from the age of eight, Altman learned to program and disassemble a Mac, shaping his early love for technology. After studying computer science at Stanford, he dropped out to launch Loopt, a location-based app that eventually sold for $43 million.

Altman’s rise accelerated when he joined Y Combinator, becoming its president at just 28. He guided startups, taught at Stanford, and earned a spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for venture capital.

In 2015, Altman co-founded OpenAI with Elon Musk and other Silicon Valley heavyweights. Their goal: ensure artificial intelligence develops safely. Under Altman’s leadership, OpenAI released DALL-E and ChatGPT, with the latter reaching over 300 million weekly active users by early 2026. Despite a brief 2023 ouster, Altman was reinstated and oversaw OpenAI’s restructuring into a public benefit corporation, expanding into AI-powered consumer devices, browser tech, and video apps.

Outside OpenAI, Altman built his billionaire fortune through smart investments in Stripe, Reddit, and Helion, as well as venture funds focused on high-risk “moonshot” startups. In 2021, he co-launched Worldcoin, a global cryptocurrency project.

Altman’s personal life is equally eventful. He married his husband, Oliver Mulherin, in 2024, and they welcomed their first child in February 2025. Committed philanthropists, the couple signed the Giving Pledge to donate most of their wealth.

Known for his forward-thinking mindset, Altman also preps for extreme scenarios, from AI threats to global crises, reflecting his unique mix of optimism and caution. With OpenAI’s ambitions and his own investments, Altman is shaping the future of technology—and securing his place among Silicon Valley’s elite.