Eric Schmidt holds nearly 1% of Anthropic ahead of IPO, report says

Former Google CEO's stake could be worth up to $20 billion at top-end valuation

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

Read Time1 min

Sources3 outlets

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt owns about 1% of leading AI lab Anthropic, roughly half the stake held by CEO Dario Amodei, according to a Bloomberg report cited by TechCrunch. With Anthropic expected to go public before the end of the year at a valuation that could reach $2 trillion, Schmidt’s position could add as much as $20 billion to his net worth.

According to the report, Schmidt acquired his stake by investing tens of millions of dollars in Anthropic’s Series A round in 2021, when the company was valued at $461 million. Amodei, co-founder and CEO, is reported to hold approximately 2% of the company.

Schmidt has been an active tech investor since stepping down as Google CEO in 2011, deploying capital through Tomorrow Ventures, Innovation Endeavors Management, and his family office, Hillspire. His other AI bets include Mistral, General Intuition, and Reflection AI.

The IPO, anticipated before the end of the year, could value Anthropic at up to $2 trillion at the high end of market estimates. At that level, Schmidt’s 1% would be worth about $20 billion, adding to a fortune currently estimated at $57.5 billion.

Neither Schmidt nor Anthropic responded to requests for comment.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Anthropic’s IPO could be one of the largest in tech, and the size of early investors’ stakes foreshadows the wealth generated by the current AI boom.
The contrast between Schmidt’s and Amodei’s holdings raises questions about founder ownership in rapidly valued startups.
Investors and regulators will watch the IPO as a bellwether for AI company valuations.

Background

Anthropic is an artificial intelligence lab founded in 2021 by Dario Amodei and others, focused on safety and alignment research. It has attracted significant venture capital. Eric Schmidt, Google’s former CEO, has been a prominent tech investor since 2011, with a diversified portfolio that includes several AI startups.

Key Perspectives

[Bloomberg/TechCrunch report]: The report details the ownership structure ahead of the IPO, showing Schmidt’s significant early position. [Market participants]: The IPO valuation signals continued high investor appetite for AI, though the $2 trillion figure may be aspirational. [Founder/CEO stake]: Amodei’s 2% stake indicates that founder ownership remains substantial but not controlling; the report does not specify other investors.

What to Watch

The final IPO valuation and pricing range when Anthropic files its S-1.
Any disclosures of other major investors’ stakes in the IPO prospectus.
Public market reception and first-day trading performance.

Sources

Eric Schmidt reportedly owns about half as much of Anthropic as CEO Dario Amodei · AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch
Eric Schmidt reportedly owns about half as much of Anthropic as CEO Dario Amodei · TechCrunch
Eric Schmidt reportedly owns about half as much of Anthropic as CEO Dario Amodei · Startups | TechCrunch

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedThe headline says Schmidt holds nearly 1% of Anthropic.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “Eric Schmidt is reported to own about 1% of Anthropic”
SupportedThe summary says Schmidt’s stake could be worth up to $20 billion at the top-end valuation.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “At that valuation, Schmidt would add as much as $20 billion to his net worth”
SupportedSchmidt reportedly owns about 1% of Anthropic, roughly half the stake held by Dario Amodei.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “Eric Schmidt reportedly owns about half as much of Anthropic as CEO Dario Amodei. Eric Schmidt is reported to own about 1% of Anthropic”
SupportedAnthropic is expected to go public before the end of the year.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “Anthropic is widely expected to go public before the end of the year”
SupportedTop-end market estimates put Anthropic’s possible valuation at $2 trillion.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “with top-end market estimates valuing the company at as much as $2 trillion”
SupportedSchmidt could add as much as $20 billion to his net worth at that valuation.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “At that valuation, Schmidt would add as much as $20 billion to his net worth”
SupportedSchmidt invested tens of millions of dollars in Anthropic’s Series A round in 2021.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “Eric Schmidt is reported to own about 1% of Anthropic after investing tens of millions of dollars in the leading AI lab’s Series A round in 2021, according to Bloomberg.”
SupportedAnthropic was valued at $461 million at the time of that Series A round.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “The startup was valued at $461 million at the time, according to PitchBook data.”
SupportedDario Amodei holds approximately 2% of Anthropic.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “the 2% of the company that co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei holds”
SupportedSchmidt’s fortune is currently estimated at $57.5 billion.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “which Bloomberg currently puts at $57.5 billion.”
Partly supportedNeither Schmidt nor Anthropic responded to requests for comment.AI News & Artificial Intelligence | TechCrunch: “Schmidt and Anthropic didn’t immediately respond to our request for comment.”