When OpenAI is mentioned, Sam Altman's name immediately comes to mind. However, the situation is different when it comes to wealth. Greg Brockman, a co-founder of OpenAI, has entered the Forbes 400 list for the first time. According to Forbes data, Brockman's estimated net worth is $25.5 billion, which is equivalent to approximately 2.3 lakh crore Indian rupees.
Brockman is the richest new member of the Forbes 400 this year. On the list for 2026, he will rank 45th among the wealthiest people in America. Most of his wealth comes from his stake in OpenAI. According to a court filing, Brockman's share in OpenAI could be worth over $20 billion and reach around $30 billion.
A comparison with Sam Altman shows that Brockman's wealth significantly exceeds Altman's. OpenAI CEO Altman's estimated net worth is about $3.3 billion. The reason for Altman's lower net worth is the lack of a direct stake in OpenAI.
Left Harvard, then joined Stripe
Greg Brockman's history is also quite unique. He started his studies at Harvard but left college after one year. After that, he continued his studies at MIT, but did not graduate there either. Then he became involved with Stripe and remained among the company's early employees.
OpenAI changed history
In 2015, Brockman left Stripe and joined the founders of OpenAI. In the early stages, he worked on the company's technical systems and infrastructure. After the emergence of ChatGPT, OpenAI's global recognition sharply increased, and along with this, the value of Brockman's stake in the company also grew rapidly.
According to Forbes, OpenAI's valuation reached approximately $852 billion. This is what led to Brockman's stake bringing his net worth to a multi-billion level.
It is interesting that Brockman once wrote in his diary how he would earn $1 billion. Today, his estimated net worth exceeds $25 billion. Thus, OpenAI's success has not only changed the world of AI but has also multiplied the wealth of the company's early employees.