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Sam Altman

Sam Altman is an American entrepreneur and investor best known as the chief executive officer of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Sam Altman is an American entrepreneur and investor best known as the chief executive officer of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. He previously served as president of Y Combinator and co-founded the location-based social networking company Loopt. Altman is relevant to Canadian readers because OpenAI’s products, especially ChatGPT, are widely used in Canada and are part of broader public debates about AI policy, education, and the labour market.

Early life and education

Sam Altman was born in Chicago in 1985 and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Stanford University but left before completing his degree.

Career

Altman co-founded Loopt before becoming a major figure in Silicon Valley as president of Y Combinator. He later co-founded OpenAI and became its CEO in 2019.

OpenAI and ChatGPT

Altman is closely associated with OpenAI’s rise and the launch of ChatGPT, which made him one of the most prominent figures in artificial intelligence. He is also known for advocating serious discussion of artificial general intelligence and its risks.

Personal life and wealth

Altman married Oliver Mulherin in 2024. He is described by major outlets as a billionaire, with wealth largely tied to investments in companies such as Reddit, Stripe, Helion Energy, and others.

Key facts

  • He has been CEO of OpenAI since 2019.
  • He co-founded OpenAI in 2015 with Elon Musk and others.
  • He was president of Y Combinator from 2014 to 2019.
  • He co-founded the location-based social networking company Loopt in 2005.
  • He became widely known as a public face of the AI boom after ChatGPT’s release.
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Canadian context

Altman is relevant to Canadian readers because OpenAI’s products, especially ChatGPT, are widely used in Canada and are part of broader public debates about AI policy, education, and the labour market.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Sam Altman?
Sam Altman is an American entrepreneur and investor who is the CEO of OpenAI. He is also a co-founder of OpenAI and the founder of Loopt.
How old is Sam Altman?
He was born on April 22, 1985, which makes him 41 years old as of July 2026.
What happened to Sam Altman?
In November 2023, he was briefly removed as OpenAI’s CEO, then reinstated days later.
What is Sam Altman known for?
He is best known for leading OpenAI and for helping bring ChatGPT into mainstream public attention.
Is Sam Altman married?
Yes. He is married to Oliver Mulherin.
What is Sam Altman’s net worth?
Public estimates vary; one cited estimate from August 2025 places his net worth at about US$1.9 billion.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Altman
    Supports: Birth date, nationality, CEO of OpenAI since 2019, spouse, and billionaire status from investments.
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/money/Sam-Altman
    Supports: Biography, OpenAI leadership, Y Combinator presidency, and public reputation in AI.
  3. Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/business-leaders/a65810455/sam-altman
    Supports: Born in 1985, birthplace, spouse, OpenAI role, 2023 removal and reinstatement, and net worth estimate.
  4. Sky News — https://news.sky.com/story/who-is-sam-altman-the-openai-boss-and-chatgpt-guru-who-is-now-one-of-ais-biggest-players-12898698
    Supports: Public recognition tied to ChatGPT and prominence in AI.
  5. World Economic Forum — https://www.weforum.org/people/sam-altman/
    Supports: Co-founder of OpenAI, Y Combinator presidency, and OpenAI mission.
  6. CNBC — https://www.cnbc.com/sam-altman/
    Supports: CEO of OpenAI, co-founder of OpenAI, and commercial role in ChatGPT era.