In a recent appearance on the Market Bubble podcast, Tristan Thompson revealed that he was an early investor in Anthropic, the artificial intelligence startup now valued in the tens of billions.
For Thompson, the path to one of the most coveted tech investments in the world didn’t start in a boardroom; it started at a dinner table in San Francisco.
Thompson explained that his entry into the world of AI and aerospace (he also noted an investment in SpaceX) was the result of networking while on the road. Specifically, it was the “NBA dinners” hosted in Silicon Valley during road trips to play the Golden State Warriors that opened the door.
“Just to be honest, it was a buddy of mine in Silicon Valley,” Thompson shared. “Sitting there and just talking to these guys and really picking their brain… they’re telling me about the future of AI and even SpaceX. I was like, ‘Hey man, I like what you’re talking about… I want in. I want to get in the game.’”
What makes Thompson’s move particularly “Quintessential” is that he didn’t just look out for his own portfolio. Once he recognized the potential of Anthropic, he utilized a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to pool resources and increase the impact of the investment.
“The cool thing was, I was able to get in early and bring in all of my other buddies and make a bigger check,” Thompson said. By bringing his circle into the deal, Thompson transitioned from a solo investor to a lead connector, ensuring his “buddies” (many of whom are fellow athletes) had a seat at the table for the AI revolution.
Thompson’s move shows a broader trend we are seeing across the league. Today’s athletes are no longer content with traditional endorsements; they are leveraging their capital and proximity to tech hubs like San Francisco to secure equity in “frontier tech.”
Anthropic, the creator of the Claude AI model, has since received massive backing from giants like Google and Amazon. Thompson’s early “check” is a testament to the importance of being in the right room and having the foresight to ask the right questions.
Photo Credit: Instagram/RealTristan13
