Who's Krishna Rao, Anthropic CFO set for ₹7,000 crore windfall?
What's the story
Anthropic, the company behind Claude AI, is gearing up for its initial public offering (IPO). The AI firm is eyeing a staggering valuation of up to $1.4 trillion. If successful, this could make a massive difference for its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Krishna Rao. His stock options could witness an astronomical increase in value, potentially giving him a return of around 5,600%.
Potential gains
Potential gains and stock ownership
At the proposed IPO price of $74 per share, Rao's potential gains are likely to increase by 5,600%. This is considering his exercise price of $1.30 for stock options.
As of September 30, 2026, he owns 94.97 lakh shares in Anthropic, according to the company's latest registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Wealth surge
IPO details and potential wealth increase
The Anthropic IPO is expected to be priced between $70 and $78 per share.
At the upper price band of $78 per share, Rao's wealth could swell to a whopping ₹6,965.76 crore (approximately ₹7,000 crore).
Career trajectory
Rao's professional background
Krishna Rao has been the CFO of Anthropic since April 2024. He previously served as the CFO at Fanatics Commerce, an online sports merchandise and retail platform.
Rao is also known for his expertise in the IPO process. He held several roles at Airbnb from October 2015 to July 2021, including Global Head of Corporate & Business Development and Director of Financial Planning & Analysis.
Background
Early career and education
Krishna Rao began his career as a strategy consultant at Bain, a global management consulting firm, from September 2005 to July 2008.
He holds a JD from Yale Law School and an AB in economics from Harvard College.