Peter Andreas Thiel (born October 11, 1967) is a German-American entrepreneur, investor and author known for co-founding PayPal, Palantir Technologies, and the venture firm Founders Fund, and for being Facebook’s first outside investor . With a Forbes-estimated net worth of about $20.8 billion (2025) , Thiel’s career blends tech innovation with outspoken political views. This profile covers his biography, major ventures, political activities, writings, and recent developments.
Early Life and Education
Thiel was born in 1967 in Frankfurt am Main, West Germany . His family moved to the United States when he was one, living first in Cleveland, Ohio, and later (after a stint in South West Africa/Namibia) settling in California by 1977 . A math prodigy and avid science‑fiction reader (he later named several venture firms after Tolkien references ), Thiel excelled academically. He graduated valedictorian of San Mateo High School in 1985 . Thiel then attended Stanford University, earning a B.A. in philosophy in 1989 . At Stanford he co‑founded The Stanford Review newspaper (with a free‑speech, anti‑‘PC’ slant) and served as its first editor-in-chief . He continued at Stanford Law School, receiving his J.D. in 1992 . These formative years established Thiel’s contrarian and libertarian outlook, setting the stage for his bold career as a tech pioneer and startup mentor .
Major Business Ventures and Investments
Peter Thiel’s business career is marked by founding and investing in groundbreaking tech companies. After a stint as a lawyer and trader, he teamed up in 1998 with Luke Nosek and Max Levchin to launch Confinity, the startup that created PayPal . As PayPal’s CEO and chairman, Thiel helped build a secure digital wallet service for online payments. In 2002 eBay acquired PayPal for $1.5 billion, making Thiel a multi‑millionaire and tech celebrity .
Palantir Technologies
In 2003 Thiel co‑founded Palantir Technologies, a data-analysis and security software company. Palantir built tools for intelligence and finance (e.g. tracking fraud and threats) and was initially supported by government agencies . Thiel has been Palantir’s chairman since its inception . Under his leadership Palantir went public in 2020 and became a major Silicon Valley player in “big data.” His role at Palantir illustrates his flair for ambitious, visionary projects.
Founders Fund and Other Investments
In 2005 Thiel launched Founders Fund, a San Francisco venture capital firm, with his PayPal co-founders . Founders Fund became famous for backing moonshot startups: its portfolio includes Airbnb, SpaceX, Lyft, and many AI and biotech ventures. Thiel served as a general partner, championing bold investments. Through Founders Fund and later vehicles like Valar Ventures and Mithril Capital, he continued investing in cutting-edge startups. Notably, in 2004 Thiel became the first outside investor in Facebook, paying $500,000 for a 10% stake . (He joined Facebook’s board and later stepped down in 2022.) In all, Thiel has a track record of contrarian bets that paid off – from early Facebook to many other Silicon Valley success stories .
His influence goes beyond founding companies. Thiel has actively supported tech entrepreneurs through initiatives like the Thiel Fellowship (awarding young people $100,000 to skip college and start businesses) and Breakout Labs (supporting science projects). He also helped launch Clarium Capital (a macro hedge fund) after PayPal’s sale . As of 2025 he sits on boards and advises dozens of ventures. Thiel’s ventures emphasize innovation and long-term impact, embodying his upbeat message: go build something entirely new rather than copy the old .
Political Affiliations and Public Views
Thiel identifies as a libertarian-leaning conservative and has been an active (and sometimes unusual) Republican donor. He made waves as a delegate and speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention, where he declared “I am proud to be gay, but most of all I am proud to be an American,” and urged the party to focus on economic innovation over cultural fights . His RNC speech and massive $1.25 million donation to Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign cemented his status as a high-profile Trump supporter . Earlier, he had supported libertarian Ron Paul’s 2012 campaign and candidates like Ted Cruz in 2012 .
However, Thiel has also been outspoken about his frustrations with politics. In 2023 he told reporters he would not fund any 2024 candidates, criticizing the Republican Party’s preoccupation with “culture wars” (e.g. abortion and transgender issues) and urging a focus on innovation and competitiveness . He said hardline social issues “distract us from our economic decline” and emphasized bridging the U.S.–China gap . These remarks underline his core values: promoting technological progress, free speech and individualism rather than identity politics.
Despite his criticisms, Thiel has donated tens of millions over two decades to conservative and libertarian causes. For example, in the 2022 U.S. midterms he gave about $35 million to Republican Senate candidates (notably backing Blake Masters in Arizona and J.D. Vance in Ohio) . In 2021 he gave $10 million each to super PACs for Masters and Vance . OpenSecrets reports he has contributed roughly $50 million since 2000 to political campaigns . His political philanthropy (through Thiel’s Foundation and direct donations) reflects an upbeat, entrepreneurial vision for America: he supports candidates who champion business growth, free markets and innovation over government intervention.
Books and Ideas
Peter Thiel is also a bestselling author and thought leader. In 1995 he co‑authored The Diversity Myth: Multiculturalism and Political Intolerance on Campus (with David Sacks), a spirited critique of political correctness in higher education . The book argued that affirmative action and campus “diversity” measures often backfire, sparking debate on free speech and academic freedom.
His most influential work is “Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future” (2014), written with protege Blake Masters . Based on Thiel’s Stanford class, Zero to One became a popular business guide. It urges entrepreneurs to pursue singular, innovative ideas (“building monopolies”) rather than trivial competition. As one reviewer put it, it’s “bursting with bromides” but also a “profound articulation of capitalism and success” . Thiel himself counsels founders to focus on doing something new that others aren’t doing . Zero to One has been widely praised by tech leaders and used in MBA programs and startups, reflecting Thiel’s upbeat belief that daring visions can transform the economy.
Through his essays and talks, Thiel continues to promote big, optimistic ideas. He often discusses the need for new breakthroughs in science, space and biotech (lamenting that “bits” are advancing faster than “atoms”) . His writings champion hard work, free-thinking and long-term planning. In all, Thiel’s literary legacy is one of bold vision – encouraging others to dream big, question conventional wisdom, and build the future.
Recent Developments and Public Appearances
Thiel remains very much in the news. In fall 2024 he made headlines with a “contrarian” election prediction: speaking at a tech summit, he confidently forecast the 2024 U.S. presidential race “wasn’t going to be close.” He argued that either Vice President Harris would falter or Trump’s voters would show overwhelming enthusiasm . As it turned out, his prediction proved prescient and highlighted his knack for unconventional insights. Importantly, he confirmed in 2024 that he would not pour money into the presidential contest, saying large donations “wouldn’t make a difference” if the outcome is decisive .
On the speaking circuit, Thiel is still in demand. In mid-2025 it was announced that he would headline a closed-door Reserve conference in Washington, D.C. on debt and the dollar (scheduled for July 2025) . This invite-only event underscores his role as a thought leader in finance and policy. He is also slated to speak at the National Conservatism conference in September 2025, among other tech and political forums. These appearances show Thiel’s continued engagement: he regularly weighs in on economic policy, startup culture, and international competition. Even in 2025, he is portrayed by media as an evergreen contrarian investor, unafraid to speak his mind on everything from AI to geopolitics.
Through all these chapters, Thiel’s upbeat belief in innovation shines through. He often stresses optimism about the future: that entrepreneurs can tackle big challenges, and that Silicon Valley’s bold risk-takers (like himself) can steer technology in exciting new directions . Whether on stage or in print, Peter Thiel continues to be a dynamic figure – part inventor, part ideologue – confident that creative thinking can solve problems and build a better world.
| Year | Milestone / Achievement |
| 1967 | Born in Frankfurt, West Germany (October 11) . |
| 1989 | Bachelor’s in Philosophy from Stanford University; co-founded The Stanford Review . |
| 1992 | Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School . |
| 1998 | Co-founded Confinity (later PayPal) and became its CEO . |
| 2002 | eBay acquired PayPal for $1.5 billion; Thiel became a multimillionaire . |
| 2003 | Co-founded Palantir Technologies (big-data analytics firm); became Palantir’s chairman . |
| 2004 | Became first outside investor in Facebook (10% stake) . |
| 2005 | Launched Founders Fund (VC firm) with PayPal co-founders . |
| 2011 | Granted New Zealand citizenship (for entrepreneurial ties) . |
| 2014 | Co-authored Zero to One (startup guide, NYT bestseller) . |
| 2016 | Spoke at the Republican National Convention; donated ~$1.25M to Trump’s campaign . |
| 2023 | Announced he will not fund any 2024 candidates (citing GOP cultural issues) ; predicted a decisive 2024 election . |
Each of Thiel’s milestones reflects his optimistic, forward-looking style. From launching PayPal and Palantir to writing influential books and staying active in tech and political discussions, Peter Thiel remains a prominent and upbeat figure in business and public life.
Sources: Verified references are cited above. Each section’s claims are supported by up-to-date information from reputable publications . (Images are from Wikimedia Commons: Peter Thiel in 2022 and 2014【41††】【43††】.)