A recent attack on Sam Altman’s home and OpenAI offices has put corporate security under renewed scrutiny. Records reveal how much some tech firms spend to arm up.Elon Musk, in 2024, expressed his dismay at the escalating violent crime in San Francisco, describing it as “horrific”. This led him to relocate the offices of his social media company, X, outside the city, citing safety and business reasons. In response to similar security concerns, other tech firms in the area have sought to collaborate directly with the police. Companies such as Airbnb and Salesforce have been contracting San Francisco police for regular protection of their offices for several years, as revealed by public records obtained by WIRED. In 2024, Airbnb spent approximately $428,443 on uniformed, armed officers, while Salesforce paid around $727,907 through a security vendor. These figures have not been disclosed before.
Salesforce employed police officers to safeguard its offices in the Salesforce Tower, the city’s tallest building, and another building in the bustling downtown area. The company also spent nearly $41,000 on officers for its TrailblazerDX 2024 conference held at the city’s convention center.
The security measures of tech companies in San Francisco have come under scrutiny recently following an incident where a man allegedly hurled a molotov cocktail at the residence of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and attempted to break into the company’s headquarters. The suspect, who is facing state and federal prosecution but has not yet entered formal pleas, is believed to have written a document criticizing AI technologies and expressing an intention to kill Altman and other AI executives.
OpenAI and Anthropic, two leading generative AI model developers based in San Francisco, have not regularly utilized the city’s rent-a-cop program, according to police spokesperson Allison Maxie. Salesforce, Anthropic, and Airbnb declined to comment, while OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment.
The contracting program, known locally as 10B and named after the city code authorizing it, allows any individual, company, or organization to request additional personnel or equipment for law enforcement purposes, provided the police chief approves it. Companies pay the same hourly rates as the city, including overtime. In early 2024, the rate for a standard officer was $135 an hour during the day, and a lieutenant could earn up to nearly $190 at night.
The program is frequently used by organizations hosting concerts, events, and conferences, as well as sports teams requiring extra security. The San Francisco Giants baseball team was the largest spender in 2024, with a bill nearing $1.9 million. That same year, at least four NBA teams collectively paid around $16,500 for police escorts. Several tech companies used the program on a one-time basis in 2024, with records showing OpenAI paid $813.43 for unspecified coverage.