OpenAI CEO Sam Altman calls sacrificing family for work a ‘very stupid tradeoff’
Sam Altman said fatherhood has deepened his belief that meaningful relationships should never be neglected for professional goals.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has shared his stance on parenthood, saying becoming a parent has fundamentally changed the way he approaches both work and life. Altman welcomed his first child in February 2025 with husband Oliver Mulherin.
In an interview with Forbes earlier this year, Altman, 40, said giving up time with family and friends for productivity at work is “a very stupid tradeoff.” He stressed that fatherhood has deepened his belief that meaningful relationships should never be neglected in favour of professional goals.
Altman said sacrificing personal connections for efficiency or career gains ultimately does more harm than good, noting that becoming a parent has only reinforced that perspective. “The baseline that something has to beat for me to be willing to spend time on it is so huge now that most other things fell away,” he told Forbes.
Speaking about fatherhood, Altman described it as his favourite thing and said the experience is “significantly underhyped.”
Altman also admitted that the disciplined routine he once relied on has disappeared. He said he had previously focused on sleep, fitness, and nutrition to optimise performance and productivity. However, life as a new parent has altered that structure considerably.
“Now it has all fallen to crap,” he said, adding that he has come to terms with the idea that life will likely remain “chaotic for a few years” while adjusting to parenthood.
Fortune reported that the OpenAI chief now spends many weekends with his family at a ranch in Napa, California, intentionally distancing himself from work and often staying in areas without mobile phone service.
However, Altman dedicates weekdays to leading OpenAI from San Francisco. He highlighted the importance of balancing his responsibilities as a CEO with family life, which has become a central part of his routine, the report added.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has shared his stance on parenthood, saying becoming a parent has fundamentally changed the way he approaches both work and life. Altman welcomed his first child in February 2025 with husband Oliver Mulherin.
In an interview with Forbes earlier this year, Altman, 40, said giving up time with family and friends for productivity at work is “a very stupid tradeoff.” He stressed that fatherhood has deepened his belief that meaningful relationships should never be neglected in favour of professional goals.
Altman said sacrificing personal connections for efficiency or career gains ultimately does more harm than good, noting that becoming a parent has only reinforced that perspective. “The baseline that something has to beat for me to be willing to spend time on it is so huge now that most other things fell away,” he told Forbes.
Speaking about fatherhood, Altman described it as his favourite thing and said the experience is “significantly underhyped.”
Altman also admitted that the disciplined routine he once relied on has disappeared. He said he had previously focused on sleep, fitness, and nutrition to optimise performance and productivity. However, life as a new parent has altered that structure considerably.
“Now it has all fallen to crap,” he said, adding that he has come to terms with the idea that life will likely remain “chaotic for a few years” while adjusting to parenthood.
Fortune reported that the OpenAI chief now spends many weekends with his family at a ranch in Napa, California, intentionally distancing himself from work and often staying in areas without mobile phone service.
However, Altman dedicates weekdays to leading OpenAI from San Francisco. He highlighted the importance of balancing his responsibilities as a CEO with family life, which has become a central part of his routine, the report added.
