Sam Altman

CEO of OpenAI

Sam Altman is the CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, and the only company executive on the board of the OpenAI Foundation, the nonprofit that controls it. He started the location app Loopt in Y Combinator's first batch, ran Y Combinator from 2014 to 2019, and co-founded OpenAI in 2015.

Artificial intelligence
Startups
Y Combinator
OpenAI

Now: CEO, OpenAI Group PBC5
Board: OpenAI Foundation5
Born: Chicago, 19851
Studied: Computer science, Stanford1

Experience

OpenAI2015 – now

CEO2019 – now
Named CEO when OpenAI created its for-profit arm in March 2019; CEO of OpenAI Group PBC since the 2025 reorganization.4
Co-founder and co-chair2015
Announced December 11, 2015 as a nonprofit AI research company, with Elon Musk as fellow co-chair.3

Y Combinator2011 – 2019

President2014 – 2019
Took over from co-founder Paul Graham in February 2014; stepped down in March 2019 to focus on OpenAI.2
Part-time partner22011 – 2014

Loopt2005 – 2012

Co-founder2005 – 2012
A location-sharing app in Y Combinator's very first batch. Sold to Green Dot in March 2012 for $43.4 million in cash.6

Education

Stanford UniversityLeft after two years

Computer science1

Milestones

2005Starts Loopt in Y Combinator's first batch6
Mar 2012Loopt sold to Green Dot for $43.4 million6
Feb 2014Becomes president of Y Combinator2
Dec 2015Co-founds OpenAI as a nonprofit3
Mar 2019Leaves the YC presidency; CEO of OpenAI4
Nov 2022OpenAI releases ChatGPT as a free research preview7
Nov 2023Removed as CEO on the 17th, confirmed back on the 29th8
Oct 2025OpenAI becomes a public benefit corporation controlled by the OpenAI Foundation5
May 2026Musk's lawsuit against him and OpenAI is dismissed9
Sep 2026OpenAI releases GPT-6 Astra10

Writing

Built to benefit everyone: our plan June 2026

With Jakub Pachocki