Anthropic Founders Seek Special Voting Control Ahead of Planned IPO

According to The Information, Anthropic is asking shareholders to approve a share structure that would give CEO Dario Amodei and his six co-founders special shares with a combined 50.1% voting power on most corporate matters, as long as at least three of them maintain a minimum stake. The structure would not carry additional economic value, but would allow the founding team to retain control after the company goes public.

The proposal is expected to be put to shareholder approval in the coming days. The seven co-founders each hold about 2% of the company. In January 2026, Amodei announced a pledge to give away 80% of his wealth, warning that AI-driven wealth concentration could destabilize society. The special share arrangement appears tied to that commitment: it leaves economic interests unchanged while preserving voting control once trading begins.

Dual-class structures have been used by technology companies such as Meta and Snap, but Anthropic's group-based approach is unusual. Anthropic's Long-Term Benefit Trust will still select most board members, with founders' board seats increasing from two to three. Employees will also receive their own stock, which could help break ties on some issues.

Founded five years ago, Anthropic was valued at $965 billion in May 2026, and has recently been valued at $1.5 trillion on the secondary market. Its upcoming IPO is expected to reflect that new valuation.