A used sweatshirt from OpenAI or Anthropic now sells for $250 on eBay—more than the price of many tech stocks. The secondary market for AI startup swag is booming as enthusiasts and status seekers rush to buy hoodies, t-shirts, and hats that signal proximity to Silicon Valley's hottest companies.
**LEAD:** In a bizarre twist of the AI gold rush, collectors and wannabe insiders are paying hundreds of dollars for secondhand merchandise from private AI giants like OpenAI and Anthropic. The trend, documented on eBay, Depop, and other resale platforms, reflects a broader cultural obsession with AI startups—and the impossibility of owning actual equity in companies that remain privately held.
**CONTEXT:** For years, swag has been a perk of working at tech companies, but the demand for OpenAI and Anthropic gear has exploded as these firms have become the darlings of the generative AI boom. OpenAI’s famous—and famously scarce—black hoodie has become a status symbol, with sellers listing it for $200-$300. Anthropic’s darker, more minimalist apparel fetches similar prices. The phenomenon mirrors earlier crazes for Patagonia vests in venture capital circles, but with a distinctly AI-era twist: owning the hoodie is a proxy for being part of the industry’s inner circle.
**KEY DETAILS:** On eBay, one seller listed a used OpenAI hoodie for $250, noting “no stains, just a little faded.” Another sold an Anthropic crewneck sweatshirt for $180. Some listings are from former employees, others from speculators who buy new swag at company stores (where available) and flip it online. Resale prices have climbed steadily as OpenAI and Anthropic have not made their merchandise widely available to the public, keeping supply artificially low. The market is still small—likely fewer than 1,000 listings at any time—but it’s growing. According to data from resale analytics firm Terapeak, the average sale price for “OpenAI hoodie” on eBay rose 40% year-over-year in Q2 2026.
**ANALYSIS:** This swag frenzy is a symptom of a deeper problem: the inability of retail investors to buy shares in the world’s most valuable AI startups. OpenAI was last valued at over $150 billion, and Anthropic has raised billions from investors like Google and Amazon. Yet neither has filed for an IPO. The secondary market, where shares trade privately, is limited to accredited investors with high net worth. Swag becomes the next best thing—a tangible marker of belonging. “It’s the uniform of the AI priesthood,” said one Silicon Valley observer, who declined to be named because he still works for a rival company. The market also feeds a nostalgia for the early days of AI, before regulation and corporate caution set in.
**OUTLOOK:** The swag bubble may eventually pop—especially if OpenAI or Anthropic start selling merchandise directly to the public, which would flood supply. But for now, the high prices seem durable. As long as AI remains the most exciting sector in tech and the companies remain private, the hoodie will be a coveted trophy. Expect more listings, possible counterfeits, and eventually, maybe, an official store—though that would kill the secondary market overnight.
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Can’t Get A Piece Of OpenAI Or Anthropic? There’s A Booming Secondary Market For Their Swag
You might not be able to get in on the IPO, but you can still get the hoodie. With AI startups like OpenAI and Anthropic in private hands, people are paying $250 for used sweatshirts on eBay to cosplay proximity to Silicon Valley’s money machine.
Anna Tong, Forbes Staff
Forbes
3 min read
4/10
Silicon Valley
Key Takeaways
- Used OpenAI hoodies sell for $200–$300 on eBay, with average resale prices rising 40% year-over-year in Q2 2026, according to Terapeak data.
- Anthropic's minimalist crewneck sweatshirts fetch up to $180 on resale platforms like Depop and eBay.
- The secondary market for AI swag is driven by the inability of retail investors to buy shares in private AI startups valued at over $150 billion (OpenAI) and $60 billion (Anthropic).
- Sellers include former employees, speculators buying from company stores, and collectors hoping to cash in on Silicon Valley status signaling.
- The phenomenon echoes earlier tech status symbols like Patagonia vests but is amplified by the exclusivity and cultural hype of generative AI.
- At peak, fewer than 1,000 active listings exist at any time, making the market niche but rapidly growing.
Frequently Asked Questions
OpenAI and Anthropic merchandise is scarce because these private companies don't sell swag widely. Buyers see it as a status symbol—proof they're connected to the AI industry. Since they can't buy shares, they buy hoodies instead.
Most listings appear on eBay, Depop, Mercari, and Poshmark. Some sellers are former employees, others are speculators. There is no official store, so the secondary market is the only option.
Resale prices have risen 40% year-over-year, but the market is small and volatile. A used hoodie might net a profit if bought cheap, but counterfeits and future official merchandising could collapse prices.
The allure comes from the exclusivity of these AI startups combined with the cultural cachet of generative AI. Wearing the hoodie signals insider knowledge and involvement in the most hyped tech sector since the internet.
Neither company has announced plans for an official public store. If they did, it would likely end the secondary market's high margins. For now, scarcity keeps demand high.
Original source
www.forbes.com
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