Molotov Cocktail Thrown at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s Home; Suspect Arrested in San Francisco

San Francisco police have arrested a suspect in connection with an early-morning attack on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s residence, where a Molotov cocktail was allegedly thrown at the home.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, officers responded to a report at approximately 3:43 am PT on Friday of a person throwing an incendiary device at a CEO’s home, later confirmed to be Altman’s. The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, was taken into custody. No injuries or significant damage were reported.

OpenAI’s security team issued an internal alert to employees about the incident. The note stated:

"At approximately 3:45 am PT, an unidentified individual approached Sam’s residence and threw an incendiary device toward the property. The device landed nearby and extinguished. There were no injuries and only minimal damage was reported."

"Shortly afterward, an individual matching the suspect’s description was contacted by security outside MB1," the note continued, referring to OpenAI’s headquarters in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood. "This person made threatening statements about the building."

In a statement to Wired, an OpenAI spokesperson confirmed the device was a Molotov cocktail and described the events in detail:

"Early this morning, someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman’s home and also made threats at our San Francisco headquarters. Thankfully, no one was hurt. We deeply appreciate how quickly SFPD responded and the support from the city in helping keep our employees safe. The individual is in custody, and we’re assisting law enforcement with their investigation."

OpenAI’s security team warned employees to expect an increased police and security presence around the headquarters on Friday. Staff were also advised to "not let anyone tailgate into the building" to maintain safety.

The alleged attack follows growing backlash against OpenAI, particularly regarding CEO Sam Altman’s agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense to deploy its AI systems across the military. The company has faced periodic protests outside its headquarters, including one last month. In November, its San Francisco office went on lockdown after reportedly receiving a violent threat from an activist.