OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's Sister Claims He Sexually Abused Her When They Were Kids
Sam Altman and his family have released a statement denying Ann Altman's allegations.
By Sukhbir Cheema — 09 Jan 2025, 02:16 PM
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's sister, Ann Altman, has filed a lawsuit alleging years of sexual abuse by her brother during their childhood
According to CNBC, the lawsuit claims the abuse began in 1997 when Ann, then 3, and Sam, 12, were living in Clayton, Missouri.
Ann alleges the abuse occurred multiple times weekly until 2006, causing her long-term emotional and psychological distress.
The lawsuit was filed on 6 January in Missouri's Eastern District Court.
Ann is seeking damages exceeding USD75,000 (RM338,000) and has requested a jury trial
She is represented by Ryan Mahoney, a lawyer specialising in sexual assault cases.
This legal action marks the first formal step Ann has taken after previously airing similar allegations on social media.
However, Sam, along with his family, has denied the allegations.
In a statement co-signed by his mother and brothers, Sam denied the allegations, describing them as "entirely untrue" and attributing them to Ann's mental health challenges
“Annie has made deeply hurtful and entirely untrue claims about our family, and especially Sam. We've chosen not to respond publicly, out of respect for her privacy and our own. However, she has now taken legal action against Sam, and we feel we have no choice but to address this," the statement read.
The family's statement expressed their ongoing pain over the situation, claiming Ann refuses treatment and misdirects her anger towards loved ones.
The lawsuit adds to a growing list of legal challenges for Sam
Earlier this year, Elon Musk sued Sam and OpenAI over claims of breach of contract related to the company's shift from nonprofit to for-profit status. The case remains unresolved.
Sam, who became a household name with the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, has faced intense scrutiny since his brief removal as OpenAI CEO in 2023.
Backed by Microsoft, OpenAI's valuation has soared to USD157 billion (RM707 billion), solidifying its dominance in artificial intelligence. However, the mounting personal and professional challenges have cast a shadow over Sam's meteoric rise.
This latest lawsuit is poised to be a defining moment in a year already fraught with controversy for one of tech's most prominent figures.
If you or someone you know may be at risk or has experienced sexual abuse or assault, please reach out to these Malaysian organisations:
1. WOMEN'S AID ORGANISATION (WAO)
Operating hours: 24-hour
Contact: +603-30008858
SMS/WhatsApp: +6018-9888058
Website | Facebook | Twitter
2. ALL WOMEN'S ACTION SOCIETY (AWAM)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9.30am - 5.30pm)
Contact: +603-78770224
WhatsApp/Telegram: +6016-2284221 | +6016-2374221
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
3. WOMEN'S CENTRE FOR CHANGE PENANG (WCC PENANG)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am - 5pm)
Contact: +604-2280342 | +604-3988340
WhatsApp: +6011-31084001 | +6016-4180342
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
4. SARAWAK WOMEN FOR WOMEN SOCIETY (SWWS)
Operating hours: Monday (7pm - 9pm),Tuesday to Thursday (9.30am - 11.30am), Saturday (2pm - 4pm)
Contact: +6082-368853
SMS/WhatsApp: +6016-5822660 | +6013-8044285
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
5. SABAH WOMEN'S ACTION-RESOURCE GROUP (SAWO)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am - 5pm)
Contact: +6088-280200 | +6011-27908020
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
6. PROTECT AND SAVE THE CHILDREN (PS THE CHILDREN)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (3pm - 12am)
WhatsApp: +6016-7213065
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
7. INTERNET WATCH FOUNDATION (IWF)
Anonymously and confidentially report child sexual abuse content and non-photographic child sexual abuse images with IWF's Reporting Portal.
