SpaceX IPO Filing: Anthropic Pays $15B Yearly for Data Center Access

A newly released regulatory filing has revealed that Anthropic is paying SpaceX a staggering $1.25 billion per month through May 2029 for access to cloud computing infrastructure. That works out to roughly $15 billion annually, a figure that underscores just how critical access to compute power has become in the race to build cutting-edge artificial intelligence.

The deal, announced earlier this month, grants the developer of the Claude AI models access to GPUs at two massive data centers, Colossus and Colossus II, located across Tennessee and Mississippi. These facilities boast more than one gigawatt of computing capacity. SpaceX originally built them for its xAI unit, which produces the Grok chatbot, but Elon Musk later said his company didn’t need all that power. The financial terms had not been made public until now.

According to SpaceX’s S-1 filing, Anthropic will pay a reduced, unspecified fee for May and June before the full $1.25 billion monthly rate kicks in. The eye-watering sum highlights Anthropic’s massive appetite for computing resources, especially as its AI coding tools gain popularity. The company is expected to report second-quarter 2026 revenue exceeding $10 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal.

An Anthropic spokesperson confirmed the numbers to WIRED. SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

SpaceX says it plans to enter into additional similar contracts for its compute infrastructure while also using the data centers for its own needs. “We have sufficient capacity to provide compute for our own AI models, including support of our training and inference demands, and to satisfy the obligations under these agreements,” the filing states. “We believe our dual monetization strategy provides multiple pathways to generate returns on invested capital.”

The filing offers a detailed look at SpaceX’s business opportunities and risks as it prepares for an initial public offering. The company is pursuing what could be the largest IPO in history, aiming to raise about $75 billion at a valuation of $1.75 trillion. Confidential paperwork was first submitted to the SEC on April 1, allowing for revisions based on regulator feedback. The version released Wednesday is a cleaned-up draft, though further changes may be made before the stock debuts on the Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX, potentially as soon as June 12.

Financially, SpaceX (including X and xAI) generated nearly $4.7 billion in revenue but lost almost $4.3 billion in the first quarter of this year. For all of last year, the company brought in $18.7 billion but posted a $4.9 billion loss, largely due to heavy spending on AI technologies and a larger rocket.

The S-1 is designed to help potential investors understand the company and its challenges. One major concern is the concentration of power held by Elon Musk and whether enough safeguards exist to keep the cofounder and CEO in check. Excerpts seen by Reuters before publication revealed that only Musk can fire himself, and he will retain control of the board. He and his allies will also have outsized voting power, enabling them to fend off activist shareholders. Additionally, SpaceX plans to use provisions of Texas law to protect against hostile takeovers and the removal of executives or board members.