Sam Altman, the billionaire CEO of OpenAI, has strongly denied allegations that he sexually abused his sister, Ann Altman, following a lawsuit she filed against him. The case, which was filed in a St. Louis federal court on Monday, accuses him of multiple acts of sexual abuse, including rape and molestation, between 1997 and 2006.
Ann Altman, who is now 30 years old, claims the alleged abuse took place at their family home in Clayton, Missouri, beginning when she was just three years old and her brother was 12. According to the lawsuit, the abuse continued until she was 11 or 12 years old.
She is seeking at least $75,000 in damages, plus punitive damages, citing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emotional distress, depression, and mental anguish as a result of the alleged abuse.
Sam Altman and Family Strongly Refute Allegations
Sam Altman, 39, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday to categorically deny the allegations. In a joint statement with his mother and two brothers, he described the claims as “utterly untrue.”
“Our family loves Annie and is very concerned about her well-being,” the statement read. “Annie receives monthly financial support, which we expect to continue for the rest of her life. Despite this, Annie continues to demand more money from us.”
The family also claimed that Ann Altman, whom they refer to as “Annie”, struggles with mental health challenges and has refused conventional treatment.
Lawyers representing Ann Altman have not yet responded to the statement or provided further comments regarding the lawsuit.
Who Is Sam Altman?
Sam Altman is a co-founder of OpenAI, the company behind the widely popular ChatGPT AI tool. Initially launched in 2022, ChatGPT quickly gained worldwide recognition, pushing OpenAI’s valuation to a staggering $157 billion by October 2024, after raising $6.6 billion from investors.
Altman has become one of the most influential figures in the tech industry, working alongside Elon Musk and securing key partnerships, including a major investment from Microsoft.
According to Forbes, Altman’s personal net worth is estimated at $1.1 billion.
A Case That Will Draw Global Attention
Given Altman’s high-profile status in the tech world, the lawsuit is expected to attract widespread media coverage. The nature of the allegations, combined with his leadership in AI and tech innovation, will likely keep the case in the public spotlight for months to come.
While Altman and his family insist the claims are false, the legal battle ahead will determine the outcome of these serious allegations
