Altman's Billions Come From Savvy Startup Bets, Not OpenAI Stake

Sam Altman does not own any equity in OpenAI despite its $80B valuation, but is still a billionaire due to his savvy investments

Altman's estimated $1.79B net worth comes mainly from his startup investments, including early bets on companies like Reddit and Stripe

Recent big investments driving his wealth are nuclear energy company Helion and longevity startup Retro Biosciences

Forbes estimates Altman has $145M in venture funds and $555M in direct startup investments, plus $90M in real estate

Altman has a proven track record of betting on winning startups early, often when others doubt their potential