Ann Altman alleges her brother, Sam Altman, sexually abused her between 1997 and 2006. The lawsuit, filed on January 6 in a US District Court in Missouri, claims the abuse began when she was three, and her brother was 12.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, denied the allegations. In a joint statement with his mother and two brothers, he said, “All of these claims are utterly untrue.” The family’s statement also emphasized the challenges of supporting a family member with mental health issues.
Allegations and Response
The allegations include claims of rape, sexual assault, molestation, sodomy, and battery. Ann Altman stated she suffered severe physical and emotional injuries, including depression. She also reported incurring significant medical expenses for treatment.
Sam Altman said he provides monthly financial support to his sister, pays her rent and bills, and even offered to buy her a house. He claimed she continues to demand more money. “We’ve tried in many ways to support Annie and help her find stability,” he said, adding that professional advice guided their actions.
Details of the Allegations
The lawsuit claims the abuse continued over several years, with the last instance occurring when Ann Altman was still a minor and Sam Altman was an adult. It also alleges emotional manipulation and grooming.
Ann Altman has previously shared similar allegations on social media. Under UK law, sexual abuse victims have lifelong anonymity, but these laws do not apply in the US.
Sam Altman, a prominent figure in the tech industry, recently married his partner, Oliver Mulherin, in 2024. As OpenAI’s CEO, he oversees the development of ChatGPT, a widely used AI chatbot launched in 2022. OpenAI’s chatbot has revolutionized content creation, generating text, code, recipes, and images based on user prompts.
In 2024, Sam Altman returned to his role at OpenAI after surviving a brief removal attempt by the board. He continues to be one of the most influential leaders in technology.
This story contains details that some readers may find distressing.