OpenAI's Sam Altman sued by sister for sexual abuse, which allegedly began when she was 3

2025-04-27 16:03:13admin

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was served with a lawsuit this week from his sister, Ann Altman, alleging he sexually abused her beginning when she was 3.

The suit was filed in Missouri, the site of the Altmans' childhood home where the alleged abuse took place from 1997 to 2006. Ann Altman says the alleged conduct began when her brother was 12 years old and he inappropriately touched her. She says he later sexually abused and raped her. Ann Altman says the abuse continued while her brother was a legal adult.

"At all times relevant herein, Defendant, Sam Altman, groomed and manipulated Plaintiff, Ann Altman, into believing the aforementioned sexual acts were her idea, despite the fact she was under the age of five years old when the sexual abuse began and Defendant was nearly a teenager," part of the lawsuit alleges. "The foregoing level of childhood sexual abuse continued for a period of approximately eight or nine years."

SEE ALSO: OpenAI launches new internal safety team with Sam Altman in control

The Missouri Childhood Sexual Abuse statute allows plaintiffs to file suit against their alleged abusers within a decade of turning 21; Ann Altman is 30.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Ann Altman says the alleged abuse caused her PTSD, severe emotional distress, mental anguish, and depression, and forced her to incur numerous health costs, including mental health care. The suit claims the younger Altman is seeking a sum in excess of $75,000 for punitive damages and the cost of the suit.

Responding to the suit, Sam Altman released an open letter, along with his father, mother, and two brothers, on X. The family claims "Annie" faces "mental health challenges" and they have long supported her personally and financially, and that she continues to demand money from them. The family also acknowledged that the lawsuit is not the first time Ann has accused her brother of abuse, but her lawsuit prompted their public response. They added that Ann has claimed the Altmans have hacked her WiFi and shadowbanned her from X and ChatGPT, the latter of which is the AI-enabled chatbot offshoot of Sam Altman's OpenAI.