Suspect Arrested After Incident at OpenAI CEO's Home and Headquarters

San Francisco police arrested a 20-year-old male on Friday morning following two connected incidents: an alleged attack at the residence of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and subsequent threats made outside the company's headquarters. No injuries were reported in either incident, and charges are pending. The FBI is working with local police to determine if any federal laws were violated.

Sequence of Events

First Incident at Residence

At approximately 3:45 AM PT, an unidentified individual approached a residence in San Francisco's North Beach/Russian Hill neighborhood. The individual threw an incendiary device toward the property. The device landed nearby and extinguished.

The San Francisco Police Department reported the device caused an exterior gate to catch fire.

The suspect fled the scene on foot.

Second Incident at Headquarters

Less than an hour later, at approximately 5:00 AM PT, security contacted an individual matching the suspect's description outside OpenAI's headquarters in the Mission Bay neighborhood. The individual made threatening statements about the building.

SFPD officers responded and recognized the individual as the suspect from the earlier incident. The suspect was detained and arrested at the scene.

Official Statements and Response

From OpenAI:

Spokesperson Kayla Wood stated:

"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."

The company's corporate security team informed employees it is cooperating with law enforcement. Employees were advised they may notice an increased police and security presence and were told not to let anyone tailgate into the building. Company offices remain open.

From Law Enforcement:

The San Francisco Police Department confirmed the arrest and sequence of events in statements, noting charges are pending.

The FBI stated it is aware of the incident and is working with SFPD to "determine if any violations of federal law were committed."

Investigation Status and Background

The SFPD has stated the case remains an open and active investigation.

According to multiple reports, this is not the first security incident involving OpenAI's facilities. In November of the previous year, the company locked down its San Francisco office following an alleged threat. In February 2025, protesters were arrested for locking the front doors to the office.