Anthropic Seeks 50.1% Founder Voting Control Ahead of IPO

Anthropic is asking shareholders to approve a new governance structure that would give CEO Dario Amodei and his six co-founders a combined 50.1% of voting power on most corporate matters, according to a Reuters and The Information report on the plan. The special shares, modeled on Palantir's founder-control framework, would apply only while at least three of the seven co-founders keep a minimum stake. The founder shares carry no extra economic interest. Employees may receive a separate class of tie-breaking shares on some issues. Board elections are carved out of that founder majority. The Long-Term Benefit Trust, whose members include former Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, would retain authority to name a majority of the seven-seat board. Founder board seats would expand from two to three; one seat is now vacant. CONTESTED: Reports differ only on timing, not on the 50.1% design—an IPO is expected in late October or November 2026, and Reuters has said the debut could be pushed past the U.S. midterm elections. Anthropic raised $65 billion at a $965 billion post-money valuation in May, is reportedly aiming near $2 trillion and about $100 billion in IPO proceeds, and posted $11.5 billion in Q2 revenue versus $787 million a year earlier, per Bloomberg. Wire accounts say details remain subject to change.