Billionaires warned New York would scare off business. Anthropic and Airbnb just made their biggest bets on the city yet
Some billionaires have spent the past year warning that the political climate in New York City could spook companies, capital and high-income earners. But two fast-growing brands are taking action despite the noise.
Anthropic is leasing an entire 16-story office building at 330 Hudson Street in Manhattan, significantly expanding Anthropic’s New York footprint from a much smaller office (just around the corner, at 155 Sixth Avenue) and announcing that the company plans to double its workforce in the city. The Claude maker, which had fewer than 500 employees in the city at the beginning of this year, expects to occupy the building’s entire 16 floors (enough space for 1,700 desks) and have more than 1,000 employees by the end of the year. The company is currently hiring for positions in research, engineering, policy, sales and operations in New York.
“New York is one of the main hubs for how to put AI to work, and Anthropic is in the middle of that as the technology partner to the financial institutions, media companies and cultural organizations that help define the city,” said Paul Smith, Anthropic chief commercial officer. he said. New York Post One expression. “Doubling our team here and deepening our long-term commitment to the city will allow us to be closer to this business and the people who drive it forward.”
At the same time, Airbnb It’s making a big real estate claim to New York of its own. The company purchased 281 Park Avenue South, a six-story building in Gramercy, for $81.5 million. Wall StreetJournal. The building is expected to serve as a hub for Airbnb’s workforce of more than 100 in the New York area. 600 employees.
“New York City has been a part of our story since the early days of Airbnb,” said CEO Brian Chesky. expression with A.M. New York. “This building reflects our long-term commitment to the city and will be home to one of our largest employee headquarters outside of San Francisco. We’re excited to continue investing in the city and the people who make it extraordinary.”
Antropik and Airbnb’s moves defy Mamdani detractors’ predictions
These moves are completely at odds with narratives that suggest New York City has become unviable for business. Billionaire investor Bill Ackman Last year Zohran Mamdani became mayor, “You’re going to see businesses flee New York.”
Citadel founder Ken Griffin also called on New York businessmen to “fight for their city” and warned that political choices could push talent elsewhere. Griffin himself was there Public fight with the mayor Following a Tax Day video in which the young self-described Democratic Socialist cited Griffin’s penthouse as a prime example of why the city could benefit from the tax. Griffin’s CCO at Citadel wrote in a letter to investors that the company may decide to halt construction Construction of a $6 billion building in midtown Manhattan – something that never happened.
