The rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping wealth creation in ways we haven’t seen in decades. Fundraising rounds for startups like Anthropic, Safe Superintelligence, and OpenAI are driving valuations higher and paving the way for a fresh wave of tech billionaires.
According to CB Insights, there are now 498 AI unicorns—private companies valued at over $1 billion—with a combined worth of $2.7 trillion. Even more striking, 100 of these companies were born after 2023, and over 1,300 AI startups now enjoy valuations exceeding $100 million.
Big names such as Nvidia, Meta, and Microsoft have seen their stock prices shoot up, while booming demand for data centres and computing power has given personal wealth a significant boost. MIT’s Andrew McAfee notes that, over the past 100 years, we’ve never witnessed wealth being created at such a rapid pace.
Recent company valuations have been exceptional. Anthropic AI, for instance, is negotiating a $5 billion funding round that could raise its valuation to $170 billion—almost three times its value from March. Meanwhile, Anysphere’s valuation has doubled from $9.9 billion in June to up to $20 billion, potentially turning founder Michael Truell into a billionaire.
Unlike the dot‑com era, many AI firms are staying private for longer, buoyed by venture capital and other tech investors. Secondary markets, however, are beginning to provide some liquidity, allowing early equity holders to sell their stakes privately.
This AI wealth boom is centred in the Bay Area, echoing the dot‑com days. Last year, local companies raised over $35 billion, and San Francisco has even surpassed New York in nurturing high-net-worth individuals.
As this prosperity unfolds, wealth management firms are keen to support the new AI elite. Although a lot of this wealth remains locked up in private companies, many expect that, just as dot‑com entrepreneurs eventually sought broad investment strategies, AI founders will also turn to professional advice for diversification and long‑term planning.
As AI continues to transform industries, it’s also poised to change wealth management itself, even as traditional, personalised services remain in demand.
