# Anthropic Prepares Founder Super-Votes — the Move Its Trust Was Supposed to Make Unnecessary

Times of AI Desk · 2026-08-18 · Frontier Labs

[https://timesof.ai/2026/08/anthropic-supervoting-stock-ipo](https://timesof.ai/2026/08/anthropic-supervoting-stock-ipo)

> The Information reported Anthropic is preparing a new class of extra-voting stock for CEO Dario Amodei and co-founders — the first time its leaders would hold super-votes — ahead of a possible late-September IPO. Anthropic did not comment. Talks/preparation, not a filed charter amendment.

Anthropic has sold itself as the lab whose **trust**, not its founders’ dual-class, would keep the mission intact after a listing. Super-voting stock is the **standard Silicon Valley move** the PBC/LTBT structure was supposed to make unnecessary.

**The Information**, via **Reuters**, said **Anthropic** has been **preparing** to give **CEO Dario Amodei** and **other co-founders** a **class of stock with extra voting power** — the **first time** Anthropic’s leaders would hold super-votes — to **insulate** them from external shareholders. Co-founders currently hold **relatively small ownership** versus typical tech founders. Plans sit inside a broader effort to **shore up** Anthropic’s **unusual governance** (including the **Long-Term Benefit Trust**) ahead of a listing that **could come as soon as late September** and that TI called a candidate for **the biggest IPO in history**. **Anthropic did not immediately comment.** **Talks/preparation, not a filed charter amendment.**

## What is (and isn’t) new

| Item | Status |
|------|--------|
| **Instrument** | **Super-voting / extra-vote class** for Amodei + co-founders |
| **Precedent at Anthropic** | **First time** leaders would have extra votes (Reuters/TI) |
| **Why now** | Founders’ **small economic stake** vs control they want post-IPO |
| **Timing** | **Preparing**; IPO window **late September** (TI) — not a priced deal |
| **Already on file** | Confidential **S-1** (**June**); Series H **$965B** post-money (**May 28**) |
| **Adjacent same-week prints** | Q2 **>$11.5B** (Aug 14); July run rate **$65B** (Aug 17) |

Distinct from Jul 15 investor meetings and the May Series H. Distinct from Q2 revenue and July run rate — this is **control**, not the P&L. Do **not** treat “late September” as a dated listing.

## Limits

- Two people familiar; no 8-K; no vote multiple disclosed (not “10×” unless a later filing says so).
- LTBT Class T board-election mechanics were already the governance story — this **adds** founder super-votes on top.
- Anthropic silent.

## Sources

- [Reuters: Anthropic prepares supervoting power for founders, The Information reports (August 18, 2026)](https://www.reuters.com/business/anthropic-prepares-supervoting-power-founders-ahead-ipo-information-reports-2026-08-18/)
- [The Information (via Reuters syndication, August 18, 2026)](https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/anthropic-prepares-supervoting-power-founders-210608256.html)
- Times of AI: `anthropic-q2-2026-revenue` (August 14); `anthropic-65-billion-july-run-rate` (August 17)