Scott Kupor
Kupor's appointment illustrates how a venture capital operational executive retains financial exposure to a portfolio spanning defense technology, federal healthcare infrastructure, and AI procurement while administering the government agencies and workforce systems those same portfolio companies serve.
Scott Aaron Kupor served as managing partner of Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) from 2009 — the firm's first hire — until his resignation from that role upon Senate confirmation as Director of the Office of Personnel Management on July 14, 2025. 1 His 16-year tenure at a16z encompassed oversight of the firm's operational infrastructure and later its expanding portfolio of defense, AI, and government technology investments through the American Dynamism and AI Infrastructure funds. 2 Nominated by President Trump in December 2024, Kupor entered government carrying a financial disclosure (OGE 278) containing 1,546 individual asset entries and 56 prior positions — at the time of filing, among the most complex such disclosures ever filed for an OPM Director. 3
Kupor's confirmed net worth of $182 million to $573 million reflects carried interest across more than 20 a16z venture fund entities, including CNK Equity Partners III and IV funds each valued at $250 million to $500 million, plus direct public equity holdings in Coinbase ($250 million–$500 million in Class A common stock) and Airbnb ($250 million–$500 million in Class A common stock). 4 5 6 To qualify for confirmation, Kupor resigned as managing partner from 32 a16z funds and agreed to divest holdings in Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, Amazon, and Lockheed Martin; he retained passive investor status in 38 other a16z funds, along with unvested-but-anticipated carried interest. 7 His annual compensation at a16z was $2,537,996 in salary and bonus, with an anticipated severance of $5 million to $25 million. 8
As OPM Director, Kupor inherited and absorbed the federal workforce restructuring mandate previously associated with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), announcing a target elimination of 300,000 federal positions by end of 2025 and confirming DOGE's formal disbandment in November 2025 while stating its operating principles remained intact across agencies. 9 OPM under Kupor administers the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program covering more than 8 million federal employees and retirees, manages Schedule F political appointment authority allowing reclassification of civil servants, and oversees federal hiring systems — functions that intersect directly with portfolio companies where Kupor retains board seats or passive investment interests. 10
Financial Disclosure and Retained Interests
Kupor's OGE 278 nominee disclosure, filed under document ID kupor-scott-aaron (doc_id 2096), is among the most structurally complex ever filed for an OPM Director. 3 The 1,546 individual asset entries span public equities, carried interest positions in more than 20 a16z fund entities, board compensation, and several CNK fund positions. CNK Equity Partners III and CNK Equity Partners IV are each disclosed at $250 million to $500 million. Combined with AH Equity Partners carried interest positions across 20-plus fund entities (many individually valued at $1 million to $5 million), Kupor's financial entanglements touch hundreds of portfolio companies. 6
The Coinbase position ($250 million–$500 million in Class A common stock, plus six call option exercises at $5 million–$25 million each, plus a Coinbase Wallet holding ETH valued at $1 million–$5 million) and the Airbnb position ($250 million–$500 million in Class A common stock, plus three call option exercises at $50,000–$100,000 each) represent the largest individual holdings disclosed. 4 5 Both originated from a16z portfolio investments during Kupor's tenure as managing partner. Smaller direct holdings include $1 million–$5 million in Okta, $1 million–$5 million in Pinterest, and a nominal Palantir Technologies Class A stake. 11
Kupor's divestiture plan required selling Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, Amazon, and Lockheed Martin holdings and resigning managing member roles from 32 a16z funds. He retained passive investor status in 38 other a16z funds. 7 Certificates of divestiture OGE-2025-190 and OGE-2025-191 document the disposition transactions. The retained passive positions mean Kupor's financial outcome continues to track the performance of a16z's broader portfolio — including the American Dynamism fund, which explicitly targets defense and government technology companies. 2
Additional income sources disclosed include $300,000 in director fees from MIO Partners (a McKinsey-affiliated investment vehicle), $73,406 from Stanford Graduate School of Business lectures, and a MIO Special Situations Fund holding valued at $5 million–$25 million. 12
Portfolio Companies and Federal Decision Points
Kupor held board seats at fourteen-plus a16z portfolio companies at the time of his nomination. Several of those companies operate in sectors where OPM has direct or indirect regulatory and procurement influence. 8
Tanium — an enterprise cybersecurity platform deployed across federal agencies for endpoint security — listed Kupor as a board member since January 2024. OPM's role in federal IT workforce policy intersects with agencies' decisions about cybersecurity tooling procurement. 10 The a16z American Dynamism fund, of which Kupor was a managing member from April 2024 through December 2024, explicitly invests in defense and government technology companies; Anduril Industries and Shield AI are among the fund's portfolio targets. 2 Anduril and Shield AI compete for federal defense contracts administered by agencies whose staffing Kupor's OPM now controls. 2
In healthcare, OPM administers the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program covering more than 8 million federal employees and retirees. Kupor's board positions at Pearl Health (value-based care for Medicare, board member since January 2023), Headway (mental health provider network, board since March 2021), Cedar (healthcare billing technology, board since June 2020), and Infinitus (healthcare automation for insurance, board since May 2022) place him in governance roles at companies whose products and services could be adopted or favored within federal employee benefit structures. 10 Formation Bio (drug development, board since June 2024) and SnapLogic (data integration, board since an undisclosed date) complete the portfolio footprint. 8
The recusal landscape created by 1,546 disclosed assets across hundreds of portfolio companies is, as documented in the OGE filing, practically difficult to implement comprehensively. No public recusal agreement addresses each potential intersection between OPM's workforce and benefits decisions and Kupor's retained financial interests. 3
Andreessen Horowitz and the Government Appointment Network
Kupor's appointment as OPM Director is one of two concurrent senior government placements tied to Andreessen Horowitz's portfolio ecosystem. Sam Corcos — CEO of Levels Health, an a16z-funded company — was assigned as Special Adviser to the Treasury Secretary via DOGE and subsequently became Treasury Chief Information Officer. 7 Corcos and Kupor together occupy workforce policy (OPM) and federal financial technology enforcement (Treasury) simultaneously — two nodes in federal IT and personnel infrastructure. 7
Sam Corcos at Treasury oversees IRS IT reorganization including the Palantir IRS contract, while Kupor at OPM controls Schedule F political appointment authority — the mechanism by which career civil servants can be reclassified to allow political removal and replacement. 9 Palantir Technologies holds federal contracts administered by agencies whose workforce falls under OPM's Schedule F authority. Kupor's OGE 278 discloses a nominal Palantir stock holding, placing Palantir within his financial interest disclosures. 11
Kupor has stated publicly that AI tools would be used to mitigate staffing losses from workforce reductions — a position that could benefit a16z portfolio companies developing AI-based enterprise automation. His OPM absorbed core DOGE workforce management functions after DOGE's formal November 2025 dissolution, institutionalizing the workforce reduction mandate within a Senate-confirmed agency structure. 9 DOGE's disbandment did not terminate the operating footprint: agency embeds remained in place and the 2026 budget request for DOGE functions doubled to approximately $45 million. 9
Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz publicly supported Trump's 2024 candidacy and hosted fundraisers. Kupor's appointment is the most senior government position yet held by an a16z operational executive. 1
Academic, Philanthropic, and Board Positions
Beyond a16z, Kupor disclosed compensated positions at Stanford Graduate School of Business (Lecturer since January 2019, earning $73,406) and MIO Partners (board member since June 2022, earning $300,000 in director fees). 12 MIO Partners manages McKinsey's pension assets and partners' deferred compensation, giving Kupor a financial relationship with the consulting firm whose alumni occupy multiple senior advisory roles across the federal government. His MIO Special Situations Fund holding is valued at $5 million–$25 million. 12
Non-compensated board positions include Stanford Health Care (since January 2017), the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (since January 2014), the Rhodes Trust, and Genesys Works Bay Area, a workforce development nonprofit. 12 The Stanford Health Care seat represents a governance relationship with a major academic medical system concurrent with Kupor’s administration of federal employee health benefits; no public recusal documentation addressing this overlap has been identified. The Rhodes Trust board position provides international philanthropic and academic network access. 12
Kupor authored Secrets of Sand Hill Road (2019), a venture capital primer that established him as a public intellectual voice for the VC industry before his government appointment. His Stanford lectures drew on that platform and produced the disclosed $73,406 in annual income. 1
All Connections
10 total
All Connections
10 totalFirst hire 2009; managing partner 16 years; resigned from 32 funds but passive investor in 38 others upon becoming OPM Director July 2025; planned 300K federal role elimination
a16z-to-government dual pipeline: Corcos (Levels/a16z-funded) as Treasury CIO and Kupor (a16z managing partner) as OPM Director -- a16z portfolio influence at both workforce policy and financial technology enforcement
a16z first hire and managing partner became OPM Director July 2025, absorbed DOGE workforce functions
Confirmed as OPM Director July 2025, sworn in July 14, 2025
a16z co-leadership: Andreessen co-founder, Kupor managing partner/COO. Now both in government: Andreessen as DOGE recruiter, Kupor as OPM Director. Their firm a16z holds Anduril and major defense tech portfolio.
All Findings
22 total
All Findings
22 totalfinancial (11)
FEC records show Kupor's political donations were minimal before OPM appointment: to Romney for President (2007, while at Opsware), ,500/year to NVCA VenturePAC (2016-2018). No direct donations to Trump found in FEC. Kupor's pathway to OPM was through Marc Andreessen's recruitment pipeline rather than political donation networks.
OPM Director confirmed DOGE dissolution Nov 2025 but retained passive investor status in 38 a16z funds with carried interest
Scott Kupor as OPM Director announced DOGE dissolution November 24, 2025 (8 months early). However, dissolution was effectively a dispersal: operatives remained embedded at agencies, Russell Vought institutionalizing DOGE agenda at OMB, 2026 budget requests doubled DOGE budget to $45M. Kupor resigned managing partner from 32 a16z funds but RETAINED passive investor status in 38 other a16z funds and forfeited only UNVESTED carried interest. His disclosure shows CNK fund carried interest valued at $250M-500M each (multiple funds). He planned elimination of 300,000 federal roles by end 2025. As OPM Director, controls Schedule F political appointments that bypass civil service protections -- directly relevant to staffing agencies with a16z-friendly personnel. Net worth $182M-573M+, the wealthiest OPM Director in history with 1,546 disclosed assets.
OPM Tech Force partner list contains at least 5 companies that are a16z portfolio companies or closely linked: Anduril (a16z American Dynamism investment, B valuation March 2026), Coinbase (a16z turned M into B valuation), plus partners in sectors where a16z has major portfolio positions (AI/defense). a16z raised .176B American Dynamism fund in Jan 2026 and B total in latest raise. Kupor remains passive investor in 38 a16z funds including American Dynamism and AI funds.
OPM Director holds $250M-500M in Coinbase stock and $100M-250M CoinBase Wallet including ETH
Scott Aaron Kupor, confirmed Director of the Office of Personnel Management, disclosed Coinbase Global Inc Class A Common Stock (COIN) valued at $250M-500M per OGE 278. He also holds 6 Coinbase call option exercises valued at $5M-25M each, plus a CoinBase Wallet valued at $100M-250M containing ETH worth $1M-5M. As OPM Director overseeing federal hiring, benefits, and retirement systems, his agency decisions intersect with crypto industry interests.
OPM Director holds $250M-500M in Airbnb stock plus call options from a16z investment
Scott Kupor disclosed Airbnb Inc Class A Common Stock (ABNB) valued at $250M-500M per OGE 278. He also holds 3 Airbnb call option exercises valued at $50K-100K each. Kupor served as a16z managing partner that invested in Airbnb. As OPM Director his decisions on remote work policies, federal office space, and workforce reductions could impact real estate and travel markets where Airbnb operates.
OPM Director retains a16z Managing Partner role with $2.5M salary and $5M-25M anticipated severance
Per OGE 278, Scott Kupor lists AH Capital Management LLC (Andreessen Horowitz/a16z) position as Managing Partner 6/2009 - Present with salary/bonus of $2,537,996. He lists anticipated severance of $5M-25M. He holds board seats at 14+ a16z portfolio companies including Tanium (cybersecurity used by federal agencies), Formation Bio, Headway (mental health), Pearl Health, Cedar (healthcare billing), Infinitus (healthcare automation), and SnapLogic. Net worth: $182M-573M.
OPM Director manages a16z American Dynamism and AI funds -- direct defense/gov tech conflict
Kupor disclosed Managing Member positions at AH Equity Partners American Dynamism I LP and AH Equity Partners IX - AI Infrastructure LP (both 4/2024-12/2024). a16z American Dynamism fund explicitly invests in defense and government technology companies. As OPM Director overseeing federal workforce technology procurement, hiring systems, and agency staffing, Kupor is positioned to make decisions that benefit companies in his former funds portfolio. He holds carried interest across 20+ a16z fund entities with values exceeding $250M.
OPM Director holds Palantir stock while a16z portfolio companies compete for federal contracts
Kupor disclosed Palantir Technologies Inc Class A Common Stock (PLTR) in his OGE 278 filing. While the individual holding is small ($0-1000), its presence alongside massive a16z fund positions (including American Dynamism defense fund) and board seats at Tanium (cybersecurity) signals awareness of the defense tech ecosystem. Kupor also holds $1M-5M in Okta and $1M-5M in Pinterest, both a16z portfolio companies.
OPM Director holds CNK fund carried interest valued at $250M-500M each -- unprecedented VC wealth in government
Kupor disclosed carried interest in CNK Equity Partners III and IV funds each valued at $250M-500M. Combined with AH Equity Partners carried interest positions (many valued at $1M-5M each) across 20+ fund entities, Kupor has the most complex financial disclosure of any OPM Director in history. Net worth range of $182M-573M makes him one of the wealthiest federal agency heads, with financial interests spanning hundreds of portfolio companies that may interact with federal workforce systems.
OPM Director net worth $182M-573M -- wealthiest OPM Director in history with 1,546 disclosed assets
Scott Kupor OGE 278 filing contains 1,546 individual asset entries and 56 position disclosures, making it one of the most complex financial disclosures ever filed for an OPM Director. His net worth range of $182,422,789 to $572,930,000+ reflects massive carried interest in 20+ a16z venture fund entities. He received $2.5M salary/bonus from a16z, $300K director fees from MIO Partners, and $73K from Stanford GSB lectures. His anticipated a16z severance is $5M-25M. The sheer volume of financial entanglements across hundreds of portfolio companies creates a recusal landscape so broad it may be practically unmanageable.
DOGE Personnel: Scott Kupor — a16z Managing Partner as OPM Director, $182M+ net worth
Scott Aaron Kupor, OPM Director (confirmed). Prior: Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) Managing Partner (AH Capital Management LLC, 6/2009-present). Net worth $182.4M-$572.9M — one of the wealthiest DOGE-aligned appointees. Board member of 14+ companies including Tanium, Cedar, Headway, Foursquare, Snaplogic, Ultima Genomics, Pearl Health, Formation Bio. 11 financial disclosure documents filed including multiple transaction reports and certificates of divestiture (OGE-2025-190-191, OGE-2025-219). CRITICAL: a16z is the largest venture capital investor in defense tech (Anduril, Shield AI). Kupor as OPM Director controls federal hiring and workforce policy — direct pipeline for tech sector influence over government personnel decisions. Also board member of MIO Partners (compensated). 56 prior positions listed. Disposition: EMBEDDED (Senate confirmed).
relationship (4)
Post-DOGE: a16z managing partner Scott Kupor confirmed as OPM director, absorbing DOGE functions
Scott Kupor, a16z's first hire (2009) and former managing partner, was Trump's nominee for OPM director (Dec 2024). Sworn in July 14 2025. To address conflicts, resigned as managing partner from a16z and from 32 a16z funds, but remained passive investor in 38 other funds. Will divest from Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, Amazon, Lockheed Martin. OPM under Kupor absorbed core DOGE workforce management functions. Kupor has spoken about using AI to mitigate staffing losses from DOGE-era cuts. a16z portfolio companies include Levels Health (Sam Corcos, now Treasury CIO), creating a network effect between VC firm and government tech appointments.
Comprehensive a16z-to-government personnel pipeline at OPM: (1) Scott Kupor, a16z Managing Partner -> OPM Director; (2) James Sullivan, a16z Investment Partner -> OPM Senior Advisor (retains up to M in a16z holdings); (3) Greg Hogan, VP at a16z-backed Comma.ai -> OPM CIO (Jan-Sept 2025); (4) Clayton Cromer, OPM Deputy General Counsel, holds Founders Fund assets. Marc Andreessen served as unpaid DOGE recruiter placing a16z personnel.
OPM Director holds board seats at Tanium (cybersecurity) and healthcare companies while overseeing federal benefits
Kupor maintains board seats at multiple a16z portfolio companies with direct federal government relevance: Tanium (enterprise cybersecurity platform used by federal agencies for endpoint security, board member since 1/2024), Pearl Health (value-based care for Medicare, board since 1/2023), Headway (mental health provider network impacting federal employee benefits, board since 3/2021), Cedar (healthcare billing technology, board since 6/2020), Infinitus (healthcare automation for insurance, board since 5/2022), and Formation Bio (drug development, board since 6/2024). OPM manages the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program covering 8+ million federal employees and retirees -- decisions that directly affect these companies market opportunities.
OPM Director holds Stanford and MIO Partners positions creating academic-government-finance revolving door
Kupor holds compensated positions at Stanford Graduate School of Business (Lecturer since 1/2019, $73,406 income) and MIO Partners (Board Member since 6/2022, $300,000 director fees). He sits on the Stanford Health Care board (since 1/2017) and Silicon Valley Community Foundation board (since 1/2014). MIO Partners is a McKinsey investment vehicle, and his MIO Special Situations Fund holding is valued at $5M-25M. These positions create a revolving door between academia, consulting, venture capital, and now government -- with the Rhodes Trust board seat suggesting international connections. His Genesys Works Bay Area board position connects to workforce development nonprofits.
legal (1)
DOJ Office of Legal Counsel issued opinion (March 2026) permitting Tech Force employees to retain unvested RSUs and deferred compensation while serving in government. OPM Director Kupor stated arrangements 'do not require the workers to divest of their stock.' Ethics lawyer Richard Painter warned: 'You're giving advice on technology and AI, and you have AI stock' presents serious ethical problems.
intelligence (5)
OPM directed conversion of Chief Information Officer positions from career-reserved SES to politically appointable SES roles (Feb 2025 memo). This enabled DOGE-affiliated tech industry personnel to replace career federal IT leaders. Combined with Schedule Policy/Career rule, creates systematic mechanism to replace career civil servants with political/network appointees across all agencies.
Scott Kupor, former a16z managing partner (16 years, first hire of Andreessen and Horowitz in 2009), sworn in as OPM Director July 14, 2025. Resigned managing partner from a16z, gave up managing member seat in 32 funds, but remained passive investor in 38 other a16z funds. Announced expected elimination of 300000 federal roles by end 2025. Called DOGE a catalyst for efficiency. Confirmed DOGE disbandment Nov 2025 but said principles remain alive. His appointment places Silicon Valley VC executive in charge of federal government HR during largest peacetime workforce reduction.
OPM under Kupor oversaw net federal workforce reduction of ~249,000 employees (10.8% decrease) in 2025 while simultaneously creating Tech Force pipeline to bring in 1,000 tech workers from private sector. Court found OPM 'unlawfully directed mass firings' (Sept 2025). OPM claimed 92% of departures were voluntary; departing employees disputed this, saying they left under duress. OPM itself lost 1/3 of its workforce (3,110 to ~2,000).
OPM under Kupor launched US Tech Force (Dec 2025) with 29 corporate partners including a16z portfolio companies Anduril and Coinbase, plus Palantir and xAI. DOJ opinion permits Tech Force hires to retain unvested RSUs and deferred compensation from partner companies without divestiture. 10,000 applications for 1,000 positions at GS-13/14 (K-K) for 2-year stints.
OPM under Kupor finalized Schedule Policy/Career rule (Feb 6, 2026, effective March 8, 2026) reclassifying up to 50,000 federal positions as at-will, stripping appeal rights and Merit Systems Protection Board oversight. Employees can be removed for 'subversion of presidential directives.' Combined with Tech Force pipeline, creates mechanism to replace career civil servants with network-affiliated tech workers.
background (1)
IRS 990 records show Kupor served as Director at Global Impact Investing Network (2023-2024), Treasurer/Secretary at Becklam K Foundation (2023-2024), and Director at Silicon Valley Community Foundation (2023). All unpaid positions. No corporate registry records found as officer of any entity.