OpenAI paid CEO Sam Altman just $76k last year

Sam Altman's salary at OpenAI was $76k, despite his substantial wealth.

: OpenAI paid CEO Sam Altman $76,001 in 2023, significantly less than other executives like Ilya Sutskever, who received $322,201. Despite such modest earnings, Altman is personally wealthy, recently acquiring a $27 million mansion and holding investments worth over $1.2 billion. OpenAI, now a capped for-profit, reached a $157 billion valuation, with discussions around granting Altman a 7% equity stake worth over $10 billion.

Sam Altman's salary as CEO of OpenAI saw a modest increase from $73,546 in 2022 to $76,001 in 2023. While this amount is surprisingly low for a leader in the AI industry, especially compared to OpenAI's co-founder Ilya Sutskever’s $322,201, it reflects Altman’s own comments about his salary being sufficient only for health insurance and devoid of equity in the company.

Despite his low official salary, Altman enjoys substantial personal wealth. He purchased a $27 million mansion in San Francisco and holds investments estimated at around $1.2 billion. These include a portfolio that significantly features a stake in Reddit valued at over $1 billion, underscoring his financial security beyond paycheck figures.

OpenAI has transformed into a capped for-profit firm, weighing whether to grant Altman a 7% share that could raise his value by $10 billion. With a valuation spiking to $157 billion following a $6.6 billion capital infusion, Altman remains deeply connected to the company’s trajectory, while his role at OpenAI juxtaposes a humble pay with potentially massive equity implications.

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