Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, reportedly owns about 1% of Anthropic PBC, according to Bloomberg. That would put him in position for a hefty payout if the AI company goes public—though neither Schmidt nor Anthropic has confirmed how much he actually holds.
Schmidt jumped in early, putting tens of millions into Anthropic’s Series A in 2021. Back then, the company behind the Claude chatbot was valued at just $461 million, at least according to PitchBook. It’s anyone’s guess if he’s trimmed his stake since.
Bloomberg’s story points out that Schmidt’s early bet left him with this 1% slice, citing sources who weren’t authorised to talk. Both Schmidt and Anthropic declined to comment when asked.
What’s that stake worth? That’ll depend on Anthropic’s IPO price. There’s still no final figure. Bloomberg says investors have kicked around numbers as high as $1.8 to $2 trillion. If Anthropic really debuts at $2 trillion, Schmidt’s 1% would mean $20 billion—on paper, before taxes and all the usual public-offering bells and whistles. Anthropic’s latest private valuation puts it at $965 billion, so his reported stake would be closer to $9.7 billion for now. All of these are just rough calculations. The real number depends on what happens when the stock actually lists.
The story underlines how investors who got in early on leading AI players could walk away with massive windfalls if, and when, those companies hit the stock market. Schmidt stands out because he invested before AI frenzy sent prices through the roof.
Word is, Anthropic could start marketing its IPO as soon as the week of November 9. Trading could begin before Thanksgiving or at least by the end of 2026—though like everything, that timing could slip.
Schmidt’s name showed up in Anthropic’s $124 million Series A round in May 2021, but the company never said exactly how much he put in or what percentage he owned.
Anthropic filed a confidential draft registration statement with US regulators on June 1, 2026, setting the stage for an IPO after a regulatory review. That filing doesn’t seal any details about the IPO’s size, price, or even when it’s happening.
A few key facts still aren’t public. No one’s confirmed exactly how much Schmidt owns now, whether he’s sold any of his shares, or how much his stake might be worth by the time Anthropic actually prices its IPO.
So, the simplest takeaway: Bloomberg reports Schmidt owns about 1% of Anthropic thanks to his early investment. Any talk about billions is speculation based on possible IPO numbers, not cash in hand.
