Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, is facing a lawsuit led by his younger sister, Annie Altman, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. The lawsuit alleges that Sam sexually abused Ann between 1997 and 2006, starting when she was three years old and he was 12.
The complaint describes repeated abuse at their family home in Clayton, Missouri, which Ann claims caused severe emotional distress and lifelong psychological trauma.
What does the lawsuit say?
The lawsuit alleges that the abuse occurred “several times per week,” beginning with acts of oral sex and escalating to penetration. Annie further claims that Sam manipulated her into believing the acts were her idea, despite her young age. The complaint outlines signicant impacts on her mental health, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and a loss of enjoyment in normal life. Ann seeks damages exceeding $75,000 alongside a jury trial.
Annie Altman had previously made her accusations public through posts on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. In November 2021, she posted that she “experienced sexual, physical, emotional, verbal, financial, and technological abuse from my biological siblings, mostly Sam Altman and some from Jack Altman.”
I feel strongly that others have also been abused by these perpetrators. I’m seeking people to join me in pursuing legal justice, safety for others in the future, and group healing. Please message me with any information, you can remain however anonymous you feel safe.
(3/3)
— Annie Altman (@anniealtman108) November 14, 2021
How Sam Altman and his family has responded to allegations
In a joint statement released on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sam Altman and his family categorically denied the allegations. The statement, signed by Sam, his mother Connie, and brothers Jack and Max, reads: “Annie has made deeply hurtful and entirely untrue claims about our family, 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.”
My sister has filed a lawsuit against me. Here is a statement from my mom, brothers, and me: pic.twitter.com/Nve0yokTSX
— Sam Altman (@sama) January 7, 2025
The statement also addressed Annie’s mental health challenges, saying: “Our family loves Annie and is very concerned about her well-being. Caring for a family member who faces mental health challenges is very difficult. Over the years, we’ve tried in many ways to support Annie and help her and stability, following professional advice on how to be supportive without enabling harmful behaviours.”
