Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt holds a 1% stake in Anthropic; an IPO could increase his wealth to $80 billion.

Huo Xing Finance reports that on October 20, according to Bloomberg, sources familiar with the matter revealed that former Google CEO Eric Schmidt holds approximately 1% of Anthropic through early-stage investments and is poised to become one of the company’s largest individual beneficiaries from its IPO. He invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Anthropic’s Series A financing in 2021, when the company was valued at $4.61 billion. It remains unclear whether he has since sold any portion of his stake; both Schmidt and Anthropic declined to comment. Investors last week estimated Anthropic’s fair valuation at between $1.8 trillion and $2 trillion. Even at the company’s most recent valuation of $965 billion, Schmidt’s stake is worth nearly $10 billion. If the company reaches a $2 trillion valuation, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimates his net worth could increase by about one-third, approaching $80 billion. Sources previously indicated that Anthropic could launch its IPO roadshow as early as the week of November 9, with trading expected to begin before U.S. Thanksgiving and an anticipated listing no later than year-end. Other major investors in the company include Alphabet, Amazon, NVIDIA, and Microsoft.