Sam Altman tells OpenAI staff there's no plan for him to receive 'giant equity stake' in company
At an all-hands meeting on Thursday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman denied that there are plans for him to receive a "giant equity stake" in the company, calling that information "just not true," according to a person who was in attendance.
Altman and finance chief Sarah Friar both said at the meeting, conducted by video, that investors have raised concerns about Altman not having equity in the high-valued artificial intelligence company that he co-founded almost nine years ago, said the person, who asked not to be named because the gathering was only for employees.
Regarding his potentially attaining an equity stake, Altman said, "There are no current plans here," the person said.
OpenAI Chairman Bret Taylor told CNBC in a statement that while the board has talked about the matter, no specific figures are on the table.
"The board has had discussions about whether it would be beneficial to the company and our mission to have Sam be compensated with equity, but no specific figures have been discussed nor have any decisions been made," Taylor said.
