Sam Altman currently navigates an existence characterized by an extraordinary degree of intensity and complexity. As the chief executive officer of OpenAI—a company whose valuation and global influence have reached unprecedented heights—he finds himself managing not only the weight of technological leadership but also the newfound responsibilities of fatherhood. His schedule is often filled with international travel, meetings with policymakers and investors, and efforts to secure global backing for the ambitious expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure. Amid this relentless pace, Altman has candidly acknowledged that his personal health and wellness have, at times, receded into the background, victims of his unrelenting professional drive and constant motion.
During an episode of Tyler Cowen’s podcast, “Conversations with Tyler,” Cowen challenged Altman to reveal his most unconventional or “nuttiest” belief regarding his health. In response, Altman offered an introspective explanation: his awareness and attentiveness to personal well-being fluctuate in direct correlation with his workload. When his professional obligations lighten, he becomes far more mindful—adhering to healthier dietary choices, moderating alcohol consumption, and maintaining a rigorous exercise routine. Conversely, when the tempo of his life accelerates, he admits those disciplined habits tend to erode.
Altman’s curiosity and willingness to experiment have occasionally led to more extreme experiences. He recounted, almost humorously yet with subtle gravity, that he once found himself hospitalized after using semaglutide—a medication that later gained mainstream popularity—long before it became widely recognized. He did not delve into the specifics of what caused the hospitalization, whether dehydration, fatigue, or another complication, but the anecdote underscored both his eagerness to explore unconventional approaches to health and the potential risks involved in doing so prematurely.
Semaglutide, commercially known under brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy, belongs to a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. These drugs have a well-documented side effect: they suppress appetite, leading, often quite rapidly, to noticeable weight loss. In recent years, their use has expanded beyond medical necessity, with many individuals taking them off-label despite not having conditions like obesity or diabetes—an example of how medical innovation sometimes migrates into lifestyle culture.
Altman’s experimentation with GLP-1 drugs places him in notable company. His sometimes-adversarial peer Elon Musk, with whom Altman has recently exchanged public barbs on X, acknowledged in 2022 that he had used Wegovy in pursuit of improved physical fitness. Similarly, George Arison, CEO of Grindr, remarked in an interview that he routinely forgoes breakfast while taking Mounjaro—the commercial name for tirzepatide, another drug from the same pharmacological family. This convergence of high-profile tech executives turning to advanced pharmaceuticals for health modulation illustrates the growing intersection between biotechnology and elite lifestyle management.
Altman has also been reported to explore other pharmaceutical interventions in his quest for longevity and vitality. According to a 2023 report by MIT Technology Review, he had taken metformin, a long-established diabetes medication, as part of his broader effort to extend life expectancy. The drug, known to assist with modest weight reduction—often between five and fifteen pounds—has attracted scientific interest for its potential to slow aging-related processes. Altman’s engagement with such treatments aligns with his broader investment focus, as he financially backs Retro Biosciences, a company dedicated to researching ways to extend the human lifespan and preserve vitality in later years.
Despite his fascination with modern health technologies, Altman confessed that his current self-discipline regarding diet and exercise has waned. On the same podcast, he quipped that he now does “basically nothing” for his fitness, acknowledging an unfortunate shift away from prior healthy habits. He admitted to subsisting on “junk food,” rarely exercising, and recognizing that such behavior represents an unsustainable situation. In a moment of self-awareness, he added that he feels a kind of social and personal pressure to take his well-being seriously again, suggesting an internal conflict between his ambitions and his lifestyle.
Altman’s admitted fondness for indulgent food mirrors that of Musk, whose biography revealed a penchant for fast food, particularly Jack-in-the-Box, and a habit of eating a doughnut every morning. Musk once told Joe Rogan that he would rather enjoy flavorful, satisfying meals even at the expense of living a shorter life—a sentiment that Altman seems to understand, if not entirely endorse. When Cowen pressed him on why he would choose junk food when superior options such as high-quality sushi were easily within his means, Altman’s simple, unflinching reply was that junk food, in his view, genuinely tastes good.
This candid discussion of taste preferences offered a glimpse into Altman’s down-to-earth sensibilities, contrasting sharply with his public image as a visionary technologist immersed in the cerebral domains of artificial intelligence and futurism. It also recalled his earlier experiments with diet discipline: in 2018, Altman publicly shared that he practiced 15-hour daily fasts as part of an intermittent fasting routine, adhered to a vegetarian diet, and supplemented his nutrition with protein shakes. These earlier habits portrayed a man once dedicated to finding equilibrium between innovation and personal health.
Nevertheless, as Altman admitted, the lure of comfort food and the convenience of unhealthy eating sometimes outweigh even his best intentions. Summing it up with relatable honesty, he confessed that there are late-night moments—around 11:30 p.m.—when an intense craving for a chocolate chip cookie becomes irresistible. This single image captures the ongoing tension in Altman’s life: a figure relentlessly pursuing the future, yet occasionally succumbing to the ordinary human impulses that remind us all of our shared limitations.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-tried-glp-1-semaglutide-hospital-2025-11
