Several Silicon Valley investors believed Sam Altman's loyalties were divided, as he was known to make personal investments selectively into the best companies, blocking outside investors.

In 2018, Dario Amodei wrote that 'everything was a rotating set of schemes to raise money' in reference to Sam Altman and other OpenAI founders.

Elon Musk had a falling out with Sam Altman because Musk felt Altman had abandoned OpenAI's altruistic goals for profit.

Sam Altman has indirect equity in OpenAI through the YC fund, which is Y Combinator.

Sam Altman did not inform the OpenAI board that he owned the OpenAI startup fund, despite claiming to be an independent board member.

Sam Altman oversaw a period of aggressive expansion at Y Combinator, growing its roster of startups from dozens to hundreds.