OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is facing a lawsuit filed by his sister, Ann Altman, who has accused him of sexual assault dating back to their childhood.
CEO of OpenAI
The legal filing is the first time Ann has taken formal legal action against her brother, despite previously voicing similar accusations on social media. The Altman family has publicly denied the claims, describing them as unfounded and deeply distressing.
The lawsuit, filed on January 6 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, alleges that Sam Altman sexually assaulted Ann Altman over several years.
According to the legal document, the abuse began when Ann was just three years old, and Sam was 12.
The claims include acts of “rape, sexual assault, molestation, sodomy, and battery,” which allegedly occurred multiple times a week. The suit also asserts that the abuse continued into adulthood, with the final incident taking place when Sam Altman was an adult and Ann was still a minor.
Ann’s legal filing stated that the prolonged abuse caused her “severe emotional distress, mental anguish, and depression,” effects she is likely to endure for the rest of her life.
Represented by Ryan Mahoney, an Illinois-based attorney specializing in cases of sexual assault and harassment, Ann is seeking a jury trial and monetary damages exceeding $75,000, according to reports from CNBC.
This legal step follows previous accusations Ann made on social media. In earlier posts on X (formerly Twitter), she claimed to have suffered “sexual, physical, emotional, verbal, financial, and technological abuse” at the hands of her brothers, Sam Altman and Jack Altman. However, these allegations did not lead to legal action until now.
In response to the lawsuit, Sam Altman, along with his mother Connie and brothers Jack and Max, issued a joint statement categorically denying Ann’s accusations. The family described her claims as “deeply hurtful and completely false,” emphasizing their belief that Ann is facing “mental health challenges” and rejecting “conventional treatment.” They asserted that they have provided her with financial support over the years and have made attempts to secure medical assistance for her. The statement reads:
“Annie has made deeply hurtful and entirely untrue claims about our family, and especially Sam. Her allegations are completely false and incredibly distressing to us. While we initially chose to handle this matter privately, her decision to pursue legal action compels us to address these baseless accusations publicly.”
The family further suggested that Ann’s actions are financially motivated, accusing her of seeking additional monetary support despite already receiving monthly assistance. They noted their disappointment in having to publicly respond to what they view as false claims but felt compelled to defend themselves in light of the lawsuit.
