Thompson said he made the private-market investments after 2023, entering Anthropic at a lower valuation and buying into SpaceX before its valuation rose above $300 billion.
Former NBA player Tristan Thompson said he invested in artificial intelligence company Anthropic and rocket maker SpaceX through SPVs (special purpose vehicles that pool private investments) after 2023. He said he entered Anthropic at a lower valuation and invested in SpaceX when the company’s valuation was below $300 billion. Thompson added that he was introduced to San Francisco’s technology circle during the NBA Finals. The remarks point to his participation in private-market deal structures often used to access high-demand startups that are not publicly traded.