Sam Altman lists Hawaii estate for $49 million as tech mogul expands real estate holdings
OpenAI co-founder puts 22-acre Big Island compound on the market; property includes private marina, helicopter landing and was once owned by Paul Allen
OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman has listed his Hawaii estate on the Big Island for $49 million, according to the property listing and media reports. The west‑coast compound, which Altman bought in 2021, sits on nearly 22 acres and overlooks Kailua Bay.
The ritzy compound, described in the listing as offering “secluded luxury,” contains 10 bedrooms spread between a main residence and a guest house, and includes a screening room, staff quarters, a private marina and a landing area for helicopters. Altman paid about $43 million for the property in 2021, and the estate was previously owned by Microsoft co‑founder Paul Allen.
Sotheby’s real estate agent Brian Axelrod described the property to Forbes as the most remarkable he had encountered in his career. The listing language highlights privacy and high‑end amenities tailored for a private lifestyle. Altman and his husband, Oliver Mulherin, held their wedding on the property in 2024.
The sale comes as Altman’s public profile and personal wealth have expanded with his role in the artificial intelligence sector. Media reports estimate Altman’s personal net worth at roughly $2 billion, a figure that does not include his holdings in OpenAI. CNBC has reported that OpenAI is in talks that could value the company at about $500 billion.
Altman’s Hawaii listing is part of a broader real estate portfolio that has grown in recent years. Public records and reporting show he purchased a San Francisco mansion in the Russian Hill neighborhood for $27 million in 2020 and later bought three adjacent lots. That San Francisco property was the subject of litigation in which Altman’s buying entity alleged substandard construction and other financial issues. He also bought a roughly 950‑acre ranch in Napa County for $15.7 million in 2020. Altman’s real estate holdings have been estimated at about $124 million in total.
Hawaii has long been a destination for wealthy buyers and technology executives, with several high‑profile figures holding properties in the islands. Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and media owner Oprah Winfrey have maintained significant ties to Hawaii, and Oracle co‑founder Larry Ellison owns most of the island of Lanai.
The listing’s timing and Altman’s decision to market the property were not disclosed in detail by his representatives. Sotheby’s and Altman did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The estate’s sale, if completed at the asking price, would represent a modest premium over Altman’s 2021 purchase price.
Real estate experts say properties with extensive private amenities and rare coastal acreage can draw significant interest from ultra‑high‑net‑worth buyers, particularly in markets like Hawaii where waterfront parcels of this size are uncommon. The listing adds another high‑profile asset to the conversation about wealth and property holdings among leaders in technology and finance.