OpenAI appears to be taking employee perks to an unusually lavish level, with benefits extending well beyond the hefty pay packages often associated with the company. Instead of the usual branded merchandise or even the 400 custom Tudor watches reportedly made for staff, some employees are said to have received something considerably more exclusive: a bespoke Swiss timepiece from Vanguart. The watch is based on a model that starts at around $180,000 (approximately Rs 1.5 crore), making it a rather extraordinary workplace gift.
What watches did Sam Altman reportedly commission for OpenAI? #
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly commissioned seven custom Swiss watches from independent watchmaker Vanguart, according to The Wall Street Journal. The watches are based on the brand’s futuristic titanium Orb model, with Altman keeping one for himself and giving the other six to people at OpenAI. The timepieces also feature several details designed specifically around the company and its work in artificial intelligence.
Sam Altman
— The Luxury Watch Guy (@LuxuryWatchGuy1)[@sama]just ordered 7 ultra-rare custom Swiss watches from Vanguart, fully branded with the OpenAI logo on the dial. One for him, six for his inner circle.
Inscribed on the back of each watch is ‘if AGI.aligned: deploy()’ which was written in the programming language…[pic.twitter.com/BbMBbkXmvZ][August 25, 2026]
What makes the OpenAI watches different? #
These aren’t ordinary luxury watches with a company logo added to the dial. The custom pieces feature the OpenAI logo and AI-inspired references, including “COMPUTE IS DESTINY” engraved around the rotor and “SCALING” on the crown pusher. The caseback gets an even more technical touch with the Python-style inscription “if AGI.aligned: deploy()”, which Vanguart says refers to the idea of deploying AI for peaceful purposes.
How rare are these Vanguart watches? #
The watches are particularly exclusive because Vanguart has produced fewer than 200 watches in its entire history. Around a third of the company’s 33 employees reportedly worked on the OpenAI project. The custom watches feature a sporty rubber strap and can be operated using either automatic or manual winding. This also isn't OpenAI's first high-end watch giveaway: around 400 custom Tudor watches were reportedly made for employees earlier this month, featuring the company's logo and the phrase “Good Research Takes Time.”
What other luxury items does Sam Altman own? #
Altman himself has a well-established taste for high-end collectibles. He has previously been seen wearing a Greubel Forsey watch reportedly valued at around $650,000 (approximately Rs 5.5 crore). His collection reportedly also includes a Koenigsegg Regera worth about $2 million (around Rs 17 crore) and a McLaren F1 estimated at roughly $20 million (around Rs 170 crore). His luxury holdings extend to property as well, including homes in San Francisco, a Napa Valley ranch and a Hawaii estate that was listed for $49 million (around Rs 416 crore) in 2025 before being taken off the market in 2026.
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