Anthropic Backers Amass Multi-Billion Dollar Fortunes Ahead of Public Debut
Early and late-stage investors stand to gain billions from the AI giant's anticipated listing, with some stakes appreciating exponentially since initial funding rounds.
By Jayden Sweiler ·
The anticipated initial public offering of Anthropic, projected to value the artificial intelligence laboratory at up to $2 trillion this year, represents a significant liquidity event for its investor base. Even before the public listing, the company’s most recent private valuation of $965 billion has already generated substantial wealth for venture capitalists and early backers, with many holdings now worth billions of dollars.
Eric Schmidt, the former chief executive of Google, exemplifies the windfall for early-stage participants. According to PitchBook data, Schmidt participated in Anthropic’s Series A round in 2021 when the startup was valued at $461 million. His current ownership stake of approximately 1% translates to a holding value of nearly $10 billion at the latest private market price, positioning him for a substantial return on his initial investment.
Late-stage institutional investors have also seen their positions appreciate significantly. Iconiq wrote a $6 billion check to Anthropic last year, at a time when the company’s valuation had already reached $183 billion. That specific investment is currently valued at $17 billion, with analysts suggesting it could double in value once the company completes its IPO.
Venture capital firms that led major funding rounds have similarly reaped the benefits of the company’s growth. Menlo Ventures, which led Anthropic’s Series D, has invested over $1 billion cumulatively, a stake now worth $14 billion. Meanwhile, Sequoia entered the fray earlier this year with a $3 billion investment at a $380 billion valuation, securing roughly 1% ownership that has already more than doubled its initial capital.
Other notable players in the AI funding landscape have also secured high-value positions. Sound Ventures, co-founded by Guy Oseary and actor Ashton Kutcher, initially invested $35 million in the 2023 Series C round. The firm subsequently added $400 million to its investment, resulting in a stake now worth billions, although Kutcher departed the firm this year to launch a new venture. Spark Capital, the only venture firm known to hold a board seat, invested $75 million in that same 2023 round when the valuation stood at $5 billion. That position has since appreciated more than ninetyfold to a value of $7 billion.
These figures highlight the rapid appreciation of equity in the leading AI labs, creating a clear distinction between early risk capital and later-stage growth capital. As Anthropic moves toward its public listing, these stakeholders are poised to convert paper gains into liquid assets, a trend that may influence broader market sentiment regarding the valuation of technology companies in the coming months.
Source: TechCrunch
