Leopold Aschenbrenner.

    The Connections That Turned a Precocious Teen Into the Fallen ‘Nostradamus of AI’

    A 24-year-old investor was hailed as a visionary and attracted billions—before turning into Wall Street’s latest cautionary tale

    Leopold Aschenbrenner. JOSH EDELSON

    Aug. 25, 2026 9:00 pm ET

    For the past few years, at happy hours and dinner parties in San Francisco, Leopold Aschenbrenner kept confusing people by sharing his favorite outlandish idea. 

    He wanted to buy galaxies.

    Some of his friends weren’t always sure what to make of Aschenbrenner’s intergalactic ambitions. He once left the room and they debated whether he was referring to physical galaxies or a type of private plane. 

    No, he assured them when he came back. He meant galaxies. 

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