Who is Sam Altman's husband Oliver Mulherin? Meet the OpenAI chief's long-term Aussie partner

Posted by Martina Birk on Saturday, September 21, 2024

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has married his partner, Oliver Mulherin, at a low-key ceremony in Hawaii.

Sam Altman confirmed his marriage to Mulherin after the pair's wedding photos surfaced on social media.

But who exactly is Sam Altman's husband Oliver Mulherin? How long have the pair been together?

Read on below for everything you need to know about their relationship.  

Sam Altman and Oliver Mulherin attend A Year In TIME at The Plaza Hotel on December 12, 2023 in New York City

Sam Altman and Oliver Mulherin attend A Year In TIME at The Plaza Hotel on December 12, 2023 in New York City

Altman and Mulherin attend the State Dinner hosted by President Biden for India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House in Washington, U.S., June 22, 2023

Altman and Mulherin attend the State Dinner hosted by President Biden for India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House in Washington, U.S., June 22, 2023

Who is Sam Altman's husband Oliver Mulherin?

Oliver Mulherin was born in Australia and completed a bachelor's in computer science from the University of Melbourne in 2016, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He is a software engineer by profession and worked at Meta - the parent company of Facebook and Instagram - in Menlo Park, California, from 2020 to 2022. 

Mr Mulherin has additionally been employed by Broadwing and SPARK Neuro. 

He also previously embarked on a number of AI projects from language detection to video games throughout his time at university in Australia. 

According to the New York Times, Altman and Mulherin live together in San Francisco and frequent a a 25-year-old ranch that has been 'remodelled to look both folksy and contemporary' in Napa, California, for regular weekends away.

Altman also expressed his desire to have children with his husband in a previous interview with the New York Magazine in September 2023.

His marriage to Mulherin comes after the OpenAI CEO endured a turbulent period in November 2023, when he was dramatically ousted from the company and poached by Microsoft.

Following the announcement, ex-Twitch boss Emmett Shear was named as interim chief executive, sparking a staff mutiny that led to 'intense discussions' among bosses.

OpenAI was founded by Altman and ten others - including billionaire entrepreneur and X owner Elon Musk (pictured) - in 2015 and unveiled ChatGPT in 2022, which has received consistently mixed reviews from users

OpenAI was founded by Altman and ten others - including billionaire entrepreneur and X owner Elon Musk (pictured) - in 2015 and unveiled ChatGPT in 2022, which has received consistently mixed reviews from users

This resulted in Altman's re-appointment as CEO of OpenAI less than a week after his unexpected departure. 

OpenAI was founded by Altman and ten others - including billionaire entrepreneur and X owner Elon Musk - in 2015 and unveiled ChatGPT in 2022, which has received consistently mixed reviews from users.

Aside from sparking worry amongst the public, this uncertainty was apparently also felt within OpenAI's six-person board.

Despite Elon Musk founding OpenAI with Altman the billionaire attempted to take control of the start-up in 2018, but saw his request rejected, forcing him to quit OpenAI and move on with his other business ventures.

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