Ann Altman has accused her brother, Sam Altman, of sexually abusing her between 1997 and 2006. She filed a lawsuit on January 6 in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Ann claims the abuse began when she was three years old and Sam was 12.

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, denied the allegations in a joint statement with his mother and brothers. “All of these claims are utterly untrue,” the statement said. It also described caring for a family member with mental health challenges as “incredibly difficult.”

Details of the Allegations

The lawsuit alleges years of sexual abuse, including rape, sexual assault, molestation, and battery. Ann claims she suffered severe physical and emotional harm, including depression and significant medical expenses for treatment. She stated the abuse continued until Sam was an adult and she was still a minor.

Ann also alleged her brother groomed and manipulated her over the years. She had previously shared similar claims on social media. The lawsuit mentions her injuries caused “great bodily harm” and lasting emotional distress.

In the UK, victims of sexual offenses have lifelong anonymity, but this legal protection does not apply in the US.

Sam Altman’s Response

Sam stated he provides financial support to Ann, including paying her rent, bills, and offering to buy her a house. However, he claimed she continues to demand more money. He said the situation brings immense pain to their family and noted he had taken professional advice on how to help her without enabling harmful behavior.

The allegations emerged as Sam remains a prominent figure in the tech industry. In 2022, OpenAI launched ChatGPT, a revolutionary AI tool used globally for text and image generation. In 2024, Sam returned to OpenAI as CEO after surviving a boardroom coup attempt. He also married his partner, Oliver Mulherin, that year.