Targeted Attack on Sam Altman's Ex-Boyfriend Nets Cyber Criminals $11 Million in Cryptocurrency

A San Francisco venture capitalist with romantic ties to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman fell victim to a sophisticated home invasion on November 22, 2024. According to reporting from the New York Post and PANews, 31-year-old Lachy Groom lost approximately $11 million in cryptocurrency assets during the brazen robbery at his Dolan Street residence. The victim, whose connection to Sam Altman surfaced during the investigation, was targeted by criminals posing as delivery personnel from a major logistics company.

The Heist: How Criminals Executed a High-Stakes Crypto Theft

The perpetrators arrived at Groom’s property carrying a white box, impersonating UPS deliverymen to gain entry. Once the door opened, multiple assailants forced their way inside, immediately brandishing weapons and compelling the victim to surrender his electronic devices at gunpoint. After restraining him, the robbers systematically accessed his smartphone and laptop to siphon the cryptocurrency holdings. During the ordeal, the suspects engaged in psychological intimidation—beating the victim while putting him on speakerphone and repeatedly reciting his personal information in a foreign accent. This calculated approach appeared designed to maximize distress and compliance.

San Francisco police responded to emergency calls that evening and discovered the victim suffering minor physical injuries. Surveillance footage from the property captured critical moments of the assault, providing investigators with visual evidence of the perpetrators’ methods and movements.

Investigation Into Cryptocurrency Transfer Methods and Property Background

Authorities are currently tracing how the stolen digital assets were transferred using the compromised devices. Understanding the criminals’ technical methodology could reveal whether they possessed specialized knowledge of blockchain transactions or relied on existing cryptocurrency wallets. Property records indicate that Groom purchased his residence from the Altman family in 2021 for $1.8 million—a detail that may have contributed to the property’s targeting, as public records could have disclosed both the location and potential wealth indicators.

The connection between Groom and Sam Altman, who heads one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent artificial intelligence companies, has drawn significant media attention to the case. The incident underscores vulnerabilities faced by individuals in the tech and crypto communities who maintain high-value digital asset holdings in accessible formats.