OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Is Happily Married to Oliver Mulherin — Get to Know His Partner

Although the future of artificial intelligence is often considered to be a potential threat to humanity, figures like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have often weighed in to suggest that the apocalypse may not be as close as some fear. After Sam's temporary removal and subsequent reinstatement as OpenAI CEO in mid-November 2023, there was a surge of curiosity about him and his personal life.

Although Sam obviously spends much of his time thinking about AI, he has a life outside of work just like anyone else. So, is Sam Altman married? Here's what we know.

Sam is currently married to Oliver Mulherin, a software engineer. He confirmed in a text to NBC News that he and Oliver wed in January 2024, at an undisclosed beach location. The two first appeared in public together at a White House event in early 2023, which was a state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modhi. Oliver got his degree in programming from the University of Melbourne and has worked on a number of AI and AI-adjacent projects over the course of his career.

In an interview published in New York Magazine in September 2023, Sam explained that he and Oliver live together in a house in the Russian Hills neighborhood of San Francisco during the week. On the weekends, they retreat to a remodeled house in Napa Valley. Sam also said that he's a vegetarian, but that Oliver "likes cows," and the two are thinking about starting a family together soon.

Prior to his relationship with Oliver, Sam was in a relationship with Nick Silvo, whom he met while attending Stanford University. The two were together for almost nine years beginning in college. They planned to get married, but wound up breaking up in 2012, even as the company that they launched together was achieving more success.

After his highly controversial ouster from OpenAI for reasons that reportedly center around "concerns over AI safety and OpenAI’s role in protecting," per CNBC, news broke that Sam would be joining Microsoft. Many employees at OpenAI were calling for Sam's return as CEO, threatening that they would collectively quit if he was not restored to the job. Apparently, their efforts worked because before families could gather to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast, Sam returned to his post as CEO.

OpenAI, which is the company behind ChatGPT, has been one of the hottest tech firms in Silicon Valley over the last year. With an $86 billion evaluation, it's no surprise that Sam has amassed a $2 billion net worth.