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OpenAI Founder Earns Just $76,001 Annually Despite Startup's Massive Success
30 Aug
Summary
- OpenAI's ChatGPT has over 700 million weekly users
- Founder Sam Altman earns only $76,001 per year
- Altman doesn't own any equity in OpenAI
As of August 30, 2025, the artificial intelligence (AI) industry has minted numerous millionaires and even some billionaires, but the founder of one of the most prominent AI companies, OpenAI, is not among them. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, revealed last December that he does not own any equity in the company he leads, which is known for its popular ChatGPT AI assistant.
Despite OpenAI's massive success, with ChatGPT boasting over 700 million weekly users, Altman's annual salary is a mere $76,001. This is a surprising revelation, as tech founders typically amass significant wealth from their companies' growth. However, Altman has stated that his decision to forgo equity ownership was driven by his "childhood dream job" of working with the world's top AI researchers and embarking on a "crazy adventure."
Altman's path to wealth has not been entirely conventional. Prior to OpenAI, he had a string of successful investments and startups, including early stakes in companies like Stripe, Reddit, and Helion, a nuclear fusion firm. He also co-founded the social mapping company Loopt, which he sold in 2012 for $43 million. These investments and ventures have made Altman worth an estimated $2 billion, despite his lack of equity in OpenAI.
