Anthropic Files Confidentially for IPO, Surpassing OpenAI in Valuation

Anthropic, the San Francisco-based AI company behind the Claude chatbot, filed confidentially for an initial public offering on June 1, 2026, setting the stage for what could be one of the largest market debuts in history. The move positions Anthropic alongside SpaceX and OpenAI in a rare trio of blockbuster IPOs that Wall Street is treating as a generational wealth event.

Just days before filing, Anthropic leapfrogged rival OpenAI to claim the title of the world's most valuable AI startup. The company disclosed it had raised $65 billion in new financing at a pre-money valuation of $900 billion — surpassing OpenAI's last known valuation of $730 billion. The explosive growth has been driven largely by AI tools capable of automatically writing computer code, a capability that has turbocharged enterprise adoption.

The three IPOs — Anthropic, OpenAI, and SpaceX — could collectively reshape both public markets and the philanthropic landscape. Anthropic and OpenAI have both pledged significant equity stakes to charitable causes, meaning a successful public offering would funnel enormous sums into the nonprofit sector. On the individual wealth side, Elon Musk, who holds roughly 50% of SpaceX, could become the world's first trillionaire if SpaceX's public debut reflects its private valuation.

The filings mark a decisive moment for the AI industry, which ignited in late 2022 when OpenAI launched ChatGPT. What began as a research-driven moment has now matured into a full-blown capital market phenomenon, with the leading players racing to lock in public valuations before competitive dynamics or regulatory scrutiny shift the landscape.