Sam Altman gifts ₹1.5 crore watches to OpenAI employees: All about the ultra

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly commissioned seven ultra-exclusive Swiss watches, with one for himself and six gifted to colleagues at the artificial intelligence company. All seven custom watches are inspired by Vanguart's futuristic titanium Orb model, which starts at about $180,000 (approximately ₹1.5 crore). These watches are far from typical corporate merchandise. They are among the more unusual employee gifts in OpenAI's history, according to the Wall Street Journal. The extravagant gifts also highlight Silicon Valley's culture of excess and its growing influence on the luxury collectables market. The seven watches were developed by independent Swiss watchmaker Vanguart, specifically for OpenAI. This is the company's lowest production amount ever recorded, with less than 200 watches produced in total, the OpenAI batch being rare. Some of the images released by the Wall Street Journal include the OpenAI logo on the watches and various mentions of AI. The words “COMPUTE IS DESTINY” are carved around the rotor, and “SCALING” is on the crown pusher. Perhaps the most tech-focused detail on the caseback is the “if AGI.aligned: deploy()” in Python-style. The inscription was in reference to the concept of using AI for “peaceful purposes", says Vanguart co-founder Axel Leuenberger in a conversation with the WSJ. According to Vanguart Chairman and Co-founder Mehmet Koruturk, about a third of Vanguart's 33 employees were involved in the OpenAI project. The watches are not OpenAI's first high-end timepieces for its staff. According to a report, about 400 of these watches were made and were equipped with the OpenAI logo and the inscription “Good Research Takes Time" and were reportedly presented to OpenAI employees earlier this month by its CEO, Boris Power. However, the Vanguart watches are in a completely different league. Starting at $180,000, they're more in the ultra-luxury category than company swag, and the employee gift is more like a collectable. Altman is also interested in luxury watches and cars. He's been spotted wearing a Greubel Forsey worth approximately $650,000. He has a Koenigsegg Regera and a McLaren F1. He has also owned several high-priced homes, including properties in San Francisco, a ranch in Napa Valley, and an estate in Hawaii. While the watches might appear a bit over the top, they also reflect the grand image OpenAI has of itself as a company at the forefront of AI technology, with the exclusive benefits that come with that sort of luxury look like something out of an old-fashioned time. Getting one of the less than 200 Vanguart watches ever made is definitely a memorable moment of your time at OpenAI for 6 employees. Pragya is a Technology reporter with over four years of experience in digital media and content writing. She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and has covered a wide range of stories spanning space, smartphones, gadgets, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and the ways technology is transforming everyday life. She focuses on breaking down complex technology and science developments into clear, engaging, and reader-friendly stories, with a keen interest in emerging trends and their real-world impact. Before joining her current newsroom, Pragya worked with News9Live, where she covered the technology beat extensively, reporting on smartphones, consumer technology, AI, space and science, while also contributing to video and visual content. Her experience includes breaking news, explainers, SEO-driven stories, product coverage, interviews, unboxing videos and live event reporting. She has also covered major technology and AI events, giving her experience in both newsroom and on-ground reporting. Beyond journalism, Pragya is an avid gamer and a passionate reader of fiction. She enjoys exploring immersive worlds through games and books, with a particular interest in stories that offer new perspectives, ideas, and experiences. Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates. Oops! Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. Remove some to bookmark this image.