Eric Schmidt’s 1% Anthropic stake could be worth up to $20 billion at IPO

Schmidt’s early investment in Anthropic could boost his net worth by up to $20 billion if the company’s valuation reaches the $2 trillion range expected for its upcoming IPO.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 20 Oct 2026 20:08:09 GMT

Former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt holds roughly 1% of AI startup Anthropic PBC, a stake that could be worth between $10 billion and $20 billion when the company goes public, according to people familiar with the matter and Bloomberg reporting.

What happened

Schmidt invested tens of millions of dollars in Anthropic’s Series A round in 2021, when the startup was valued at $461 million, according to PitchBook data cited by Bloomberg. The company’s most recent valuation is reported at $965 billion, and investors have recently pegged a potential IPO valuation between $1.8 trillion and $2 trillion. At the low end of that range, Schmidt’s 1% stake would be worth about $10 billion; at the high end, the stake could be worth as much as $20 billion, which would raise his net worth by roughly one‑third to nearly $80 billion.

What the reports add

Both the Los Angeles Times and the New York Post cite Bloomberg as the source for the valuation range and the estimated worth of Schmidt’s stake. The Los Angeles Times notes that a $2 trillion valuation would value Schmidt’s holding at about $80 billion on paper, while the New York Post emphasizes the $20 billion figure as a possible peak value. Both outlets state that Schmidt and Anthropic declined to comment.

What was said

Neither outlet includes direct quotations from Schmidt or Anthropic representatives; both report that the parties declined to comment.

How it came about

Anthropic’s upcoming IPO has been the focus of several Felo News stories. The firm’s prospectus, covered on Sept. 29, warned of massive losses and projected a valuation near $2 trillion. Earlier coverage on Sept. 19 highlighted the company’s push toward a $100 billion revenue run rate, underscoring the growth that fuels the high valuation expectations. The current estimates of Schmidt’s stake value build on those earlier reports of the IPO’s scale.

Key facts

Eric Schmidt owns about 1% of Anthropic PBC. (latimes.com)
Schmidt invested tens of millions in Anthropic’s 2021 Series A round. (latimes.com)
Anthropic’s valuation is estimated between $1.8 trillion and $2 trillion ahead of its IPO. (nypost.com)
At a $2 trillion valuation, Schmidt’s stake could be worth up to $20 billion. (nypost.com)

Timeline

2021-01-01 — Anthropic Series A funding round, valued at $461 million; Schmidt invests tens of millions.
2025-12-31 — Anthropic reports $965 billion valuation in latest data.
2026-10-20 — Reports published on Schmidt’s stake value ahead of Anthropic IPO.