Greg Brockman, co-founder and CTO of OpenAI, has become the richest new member of the Forbes 400 list with an estimated net worth of $25.5 billion, surpassing more publicly recognized figures like Sam Altman, who holds no direct equity in OpenAI. Brockman’s significant stake in OpenAI and Stripe, along with his pivotal role in developing AI technology, highlights his rise from a low-profile engineer to one of America’s wealthiest individuals amid OpenAI’s rapid growth and leadership changes.
Greg Brockman, co-founder and CTO of OpenAI, has emerged as the richest new member of the Forbes 400 list, with an estimated net worth of $25.5 billion. Despite Sam Altman being the more publicly recognized face of OpenAI, Brockman’s stake in the company, valued between $20 billion and $30 billion, has propelled him to the 45th richest person in the U.S., surpassing notable figures like Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Fox News mogul Rupert Murdoch. Altman, by contrast, holds no direct equity in OpenAI and is worth about $3.3 billion, falling short of the Forbes 400.
Brockman’s journey began in Thompson, North Dakota, where he developed an early interest in math and science. After briefly attending Harvard and MIT, he dropped out to join Stripe as its fourth employee and CTO. He left Stripe in 2015 to co-found OpenAI, retaining a significant $471 million stake in Stripe, now valued at $159 billion. For years, Brockman worked behind the scenes, developing the technology behind ChatGPT and helping OpenAI grow from a nonprofit startup to a tech powerhouse valued at $852 billion with $40 billion in revenue.
The rise of OpenAI has not been without controversy. Brockman’s private journal entries became key evidence in a legal battle initiated by Elon Musk, who accused Brockman and Altman of betraying him by converting OpenAI from a nonprofit to a for-profit entity. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed due to timing issues, but the trial brought Brockman into the spotlight. Despite internal upheavals and the departure of several senior leaders, Brockman remains a central figure at OpenAI, managing both its computing infrastructure and product business.
In recent months, OpenAI has seen significant leadership changes, with several executives leaving for various reasons, including project shutdowns and personal health. Brockman, alongside Altman and Voych Zeremba, is one of the few original co-founders still actively running the company. The firm confidentially filed for an IPO in June, signaling its continued growth and ambition in the AI sector. Brockman’s loyalty to Altman was evident when he resigned shortly after Altman’s unexpected firing, despite the personal financial risk involved.
Beyond OpenAI and Stripe, Brockman holds smaller investments in companies like Cerebras, Coreweave, and Helion, all of which have business ties to OpenAI. His rise from a relatively low-profile engineer to one of America’s wealthiest individuals underscores the explosive growth and transformative impact of AI technology. For more detailed coverage and the full Forbes 400 list, readers are directed to Forbes.com.