A unique trend is emerging in San Francisco's competitive housing market. Some sellers are now demanding pre-IPO shares in artificial intelligence companies OpenAI and Anthropic as payment for their properties.
This unconventional request highlights the extraordinary investor appetite for equity in these two leading AI firms, both of which are on the cusp of major public offerings.
OpenAI has confidentially filed its S-1 with the SEC, with market speculation pointing to a potential valuation exceeding one trillion dollars. Meanwhile, Anthropic is targeting a Nasdaq debut in October 2026 with a projected valuation of $965 billion.
The move underscores a belief among some property owners that owning a stake in the foundational AI companies may prove more valuable than traditional currency in the long term.