OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman has been accused of sexually abusing and raping his younger sister for years when they were still minors.
In a lawsuit filed in the US Eastern District Court of Missouri, Ann Altman said the abuse occurred from 1997 to 2006 at their family home outside St. Louis. The lawsuit claimed that Ann was three years old at the time the abuse began while Sam was 12.
The alleged abuse consisted of rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse, molestation, sodomy, and battery, CNN reported. The incidents alleged led Ann to develop PTSD, severe emotional distress, and depression, per The New York Times.
Ann has previously made abuse allegations in a post on her X account in 2023.
What Has Sam Altman Said About the Allegations?
Following the filing of the lawsuit, Sam released a statement on X (formerly Twitter) where he adamantly denied the accusations, calling them "utterly untrue." The statement, which was also signed by his mother and younger brothers, also claimed Ann had been struggling with "mental health challenges" and has refused to undergo "conventional treatment."
Furthermore, Sam claimed Ann---who he called "Annie" in the statement---has continued to demand money from the family despite receiving monthly financial support.
My sister has filed a lawsuit against me. Here is a statement from my mom, brothers, and me: pic.twitter.com/Nve0yokTSX
— Sam Altman (@sama) January 7, 2025
Ann is seeking $75,000 in damages and is requesting a jury trial. Ann's lawyer also said they are seeking punitive damages based on Sam's net worth.
Who Is Sam Altman?
Sam, 39, is one of the most prominent leaders and figures in the technology sector. He co-founded OpenAI, which developed the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT. His company had a valuation of $157 billion as of October 2024.
Sam was briefly fired from the position in November 2023 after board members accused him of "being not consistently candid in his communications." They added that the board was no longer confident that Sam could lead the company and that it needed a new leader moving forward.
His departure from the company led nearly all of OpenAI's 750 to threaten to resign unless he was brought back, and the board quit afterward. Sam was reinstated days later.
