Anthropic has introduced a Founder LLC structure to retain control over key corporate decisions ahead of its planned IPO. This entity holds a single Class F share, granting the seven co-founders 50.1% of voting power on critical matters, including board elections. This arrangement limits the influence of Class A shareholders, who operate under a standard one-vote-per-share model.
The company maintains its status as a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation, allowing directors to prioritize safety and stakeholder interests over maximizing shareholder returns. Anthropic explicitly warned in its filings that its safety mission could negatively impact the financial performance of its common stock. The board is legally protected if it restricts profitable but potentially dangerous AI capabilities.
In addition to the Founder LLC, the company established a Long-Term Benefit Trust to oversee board composition, with former Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke serving as a trustee. The founders have committed to donating 80% of their equity to charity. As of May 2026, the company was valued at approximately $965 billion, and CEO Dario Amodei received nearly $18 million in 2025 compensation.
Anthropic filed confidentially for a US IPO in June 2026. The company's governance model faces scrutiny from proxy advisory firms like Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis, which typically oppose multi-class share structures. Anthropic was founded in 2021 by Dario and Daniela Amodei along with other former OpenAI employees.
