Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Sam Altman

How Sam Altman built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Sam Altman is an American entrepreneur, investor, and the current CEO of OpenAI since 2019. He is a prominent figure in the field of artificial intelligence, particularly known for leading one of the most influential AI research and deployment companies. His leadership at OpenAI has placed him at the forefront of the AI boom, shaping discussions and developments in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI technology.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2005: Altman Co-founds Loopt

In 2005, at the age of 19, Sam Altman co-founded Loopt, a location-based social networking mobile application, marking his early entry into the tech startup scene.

2011: Altman Becomes Partner at Y Combinator

In 2011, Sam Altman became a partner at Y Combinator (YC), a startup accelerator, marking a significant step in his involvement with early-stage tech companies.

2011: Altman Joins Y Combinator

In 2011, Sam Altman joined Y Combinator, a startup accelerator, marking a significant step in his career within the startup ecosystem.

March 2012: Green Dot Acquires Loopt

In March 2012, Loopt, co-founded by Sam Altman, was acquired by the Green Dot Corporation for $43.4 million after failing to gain significant user traction.

April 2012: Altman Co-founds Hydrazine Capital

In April 2012, Sam Altman co-founded Hydrazine Capital with his brother, Jack Altman. This venture capital firm focuses on early-stage tech investments.

February 2014: Altman Named President of Y Combinator

In February 2014, Sam Altman was appointed as the president of Y Combinator (YC) by co-founder Paul Graham, solidifying his leadership role within the prominent startup accelerator.

2014: Altman Becomes President of Y Combinator

In 2014, Sam Altman assumed the role of president at Y Combinator, a startup accelerator, further solidifying his influence in the tech industry.

2014: Altman Briefly Serves as CEO of Reddit

In 2014, Sam Altman briefly served as the CEO of Reddit for eight days after the resignation of Yishan Wong.

July 10, 2015: Huffman Returns as Reddit CEO; Altman Remains on Board

On July 10, 2015, Steve Huffman returned as the CEO of Reddit, while Sam Altman remained on its board.

October 2015: Altman Announces YC Continuity and Y Combinator Research

In October 2015, Sam Altman announced two initiatives: YC Continuity, a $700 million equity fund for YC companies, and Y Combinator Research, a non-profit research lab established with $10 million of his own funds.

December 2015: Altman Co-founds OpenAI

In December 2015, Sam Altman co-founded OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research organization, with figures like Elon Musk and Jessica Livingston, aiming to develop friendly AI for humanity's benefit. The organization was initially funded with $1 billion in commitments.

2015: OpenAI Launches with $1 Billion Funding

In 2015, OpenAI launched with initial funding of $1 billion, supported by investors including Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and others.

September 2016: Altman Becomes President of YC Group

In September 2016, Sam Altman's role expanded as he was named president of YC Group, encompassing Y Combinator and other related units.

March 2019: Altman Leaves Y Combinator to Focus on OpenAI

In March 2019, Sam Altman transitioned from Y Combinator to focus full-time on his role as CEO of OpenAI.

March 2019: Altman Transitions to Chairman Role at YC

In March 2019, YC announced Sam Altman's transition from president to chairman of the board, a less hands-on role allowing him to prioritize OpenAI.

2019: Altman Becomes CEO of OpenAI

In 2019, Sam Altman became the chief executive officer of OpenAI, marking a significant milestone in his career.

2019: Altman Co-founds Tools For Humanity

In 2019, Sam Altman co-founded Tools For Humanity, a company focused on building systems to scan people's eyes for authentication and proof of personhood, compensating participants with the cryptocurrency Worldcoin.

2019: Altman Ends Presidency at Y Combinator

In 2019, Sam Altman's tenure as president of Y Combinator concluded, marking a shift in his focus towards other ventures.

2020: Altman No Longer Affiliated with YC

By early 2020, Sam Altman was no longer affiliated with Y Combinator.

March 2021: Altman Co-founds AltC Acquisition Corp

In March 2021, Sam Altman and Michael Klein co-founded AltC Acquisition Corp, a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC), with Altman serving as CEO.

2021: Altman Invests in Reddit Funding Round

In 2021, Sam Altman invested in a funding round for Reddit.

2021: Altman Publishes "Moore's Law for Everything"

In 2021, Sam Altman published a blog post titled "Moore's Law for Everything", expressing his belief that AI could generate enough value to fund a UBI of $13,500 per year for every adult in the United States within ten years.

2022: Altman Leaves Reddit Board

In 2022, Sam Altman left the board of Reddit.

March 2023: Altman Provides Capital During Silicon Valley Bank Crisis

In March 2023, during the depositor run on Silicon Valley Bank, Sam Altman provided capital to multiple startups.

May 2023: Altman's World Tour After ChatGPT Success

In May 2023, following the success of ChatGPT, Sam Altman embarked on a world tour, visiting 22 countries and engaging with various global leaders and diplomats.

May 16, 2023: Altman Testifies Before Senate Subcommittee

On May 16, 2023, Sam Altman testified before the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law, addressing issues related to AI oversight.

November 2023: Altman Briefly Dismissed and Reinstated as OpenAI CEO

In November 2023, Sam Altman was briefly dismissed as the CEO of OpenAI but was later reinstated. This event occurred amidst his tenure as a leading figure in the AI boom.

November 17, 2023: Altman Removed as OpenAI CEO

On November 17, 2023, OpenAI's board announced the removal of Sam Altman as CEO, citing a lack of consistent candor in his communications. Greg Brockman also resigned as President of OpenAI in response.

March 8, 2024: Altman Rejoins OpenAI Board of Directors

On March 8, 2024, OpenAI announced that Sam Altman would rejoin the board of directors following a review by law firm WilmerHale.

May 2024: Oklo Inc. Completes Merger with AltC Acquisition Corp

In May 2024, Oklo Inc. completed a merger with AltC Acquisition Corp. to become a public company, with Altman remaining as chairman of Oklo.

May 2024: Signed the Giving Pledge

In May 2024, Sam Altman and his spouse, Oliver Mulherin, committed to donating the majority of their wealth by signing the Giving Pledge.

2024: Altman Suggests "Universal Basic Compute"

In 2024, Sam Altman suggested a new form of UBI called "universal basic compute" to give everyone a "slice" of ChatGPT's computing power.

2024: Altman Listed as Third-Largest Reddit Shareholder

Prior to Reddit's IPO in 2024, Sam Altman was listed as its third-largest shareholder, owning around nine percent.

April 2025: Altman Serves as Chairman of Helion Energy and Oklo

As of April 2025, Sam Altman served as the chairman of clean energy companies Helion Energy and Oklo.

April 2025: Altman Steps Down as Chairman of Oklo

In April 2025, Sam Altman stepped down as chairman of Oklo to "avoid conflict of interest" and "open up opportunities for future deals between OpenAI and Oklo."