Wealthy families managing their own investment fortunes through family offices are sharply increasing their positions in artificial intelligence. Rather than sticking with conservative bets or going through venture funds, many are buying shares directly in private companies and tapping secondary markets to gain exposure to big AI winners.
Risk appetite takes center stage
Advisors report a clear preference among family offices for deals that promise outsized returns in the short term. If given a choice between an investment that might triple over three years versus one that could do the same in just a few months—especially one in AI—they overwhelmingly pick the faster gain.
This urgency is reshaping how these investors operate. Bigger bets are being made on individual companies, especially those leading in AI. Traditional blind-pool fund investments—where investors commit capital without knowing exactly where it will go—are being bypassed in favor of direct equity or secondary share-buying. These approaches offer less wait time and greater transparency.
Money, strategy, and market cycle
In 2024, family offices had oversight of around $5.5 trillion in global wealth. That sum is expected to reach at least $9.5 trillion by 2030. Nearly half—42%—of these portfolios are now in alternative investments such as venture capital, private equity, and private credit. This marks a major shift from previous decades where bonds and public equities were dominant.
Historically, family offices made direct investments more common in the late 2010s. Activity peaked in 2021 with about 13% of portfolios in direct deals, up from 9% in 2019. Deal volume hit $1.05 trillion globally that year. However, as interest rates rose and some investments underperformed, direct-deal and M&A activity fell dramatically—by more than half over 18 months through late 2023. Deal volume hit its lowest in a decade by mid-2025.
Now, firms are coming back, but in a different shape. Rather than dozens of smaller bets, many are placing fewer, bigger wagers—often investing in well-known AI companies through the secondary market. These are seen as less risky because there is already proof of concept: existing customers, early revenues, or strong traction.
Examples and investor behavior
Some family offices are going after marquee names. One advisor noted seeing interest in buying tens of millions of dollars in secondary shares of leading AI companies like Anthropic. Companies with high profiles and long runway are especially in demand.
Even those investors without AI-only mandates are being drawn in by the frenetic activity and FOMO around these transactions. Despite worries over high valuations—or even concerns that AI might be a bubble—many feel they can’t afford to sit out.
Still, there’s a tension. With macroeconomic risks like recessions, geopolitical instability, and growing global debt levels, family offices are trying to balance opportunity and risk. They are seeking to diversify across asset classes, currencies, and geographies to avoid being overexposed.
Bottom line: AI has become more than just another sector—it’s the centerpiece of many wealthy investors’ growth portfolios. What’s in play now isn’t just making money—it’s making money fast, and with control. And in this moment, speed matters.
