Suspect Arrested for Allegedly Throwing Molotov Cocktail at Sam Altman’s Home

“At approximately 3:45am 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,” the message to staff reads.

“Shortly afterward, an individual matching the suspect’s description was contacted by security outside MB1,” the message continues, referring to OpenAI’s headquarters in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood.

“This person made threatening statements about the building.”
OpenAI’s corporate security team told staff it is cooperating with law enforcement on an investigation, and that employees may notice an increased police and security presence around the office on Friday.

The security team said that the company’s offices remain open, but employees were advised to “not let anyone tailgate into the building.”
Less than an hour later, a person who police recognized as the same suspect was found outside of OpenAI’s offices threatening to burn down the building.

Officers detained the suspect, an unidentified 20-year-old male, and arrested him on the scene.

No injuries have been reported, and charges are still pending, SFPD said in the statement.

This is the latest incident in which OpenAI’s office and staff have been threatened.

In November of last year, OpenAI locked down its San Francisco office following an alleged threat from an activist.

In February 2025, protesters were arrested for locking the front doors to OpenAI’s office.

Lauren Goode contributed reporting.