# Peter Thiel

> German-American entrepreneur and venture capitalist (born 1967)

**Wikidata**: [Q705525](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q705525)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Thiel)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/peter-thiel

## Summary
Peter Thiel is a German-American entrepreneur and venture capitalist born in 1967, known for founding PayPal and co-founding Palantir Technologies. He is also a prominent figure in libertarian conservatism and has been influential in Silicon Valley's startup ecosystem.

## Biography
- Born: October 11, 1967, Frankfurt, West Germany
- Nationality: United States (naturalized), Germany (birth), New Zealand (citizenship since 2011)
- Education:
  - Bachelor of Arts, Stanford University
  - Juris Doctor, Stanford Law School
- Known for: Founding PayPal and Palantir Technologies; influential venture capitalist and libertarian thinker
- Employer(s): Founders Fund, Stanford University (employer), Meta (former board member), Palantir Technologies (board member)
- Field(s): Venture capital, entrepreneurship, libertarian conservatism

## Contributions
Peter Thiel co-founded PayPal in 2000, which was acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002. He later co-founded Palantir Technologies in 2003, a data analytics company used by the U.S. government. Thiel has been a prominent venture capitalist, investing in companies like Facebook (now Meta) and SpaceX. He has also written extensively on libertarian and conservative political theory, influencing the libertarian movement. Thiel has been a board member of Meta and Palantir Technologies, and he has been involved in political activism, including supporting libertarian and conservative causes.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Peter Thiel known for?
A: Peter Thiel is known for co-founding PayPal and Palantir Technologies, as well as his role as a venture capitalist and libertarian thinker. He has been influential in Silicon Valley's startup ecosystem and has written extensively on political theory.

### Q: What is Peter Thiel's political ideology?
A: Peter Thiel's political ideology is libertarian conservatism, which combines free-market principles with conservative social values. He has been involved in political activism and has supported libertarian and conservative causes.

### Q: What companies has Peter Thiel founded?
A: Peter Thiel has co-founded PayPal and Palantir Technologies. He has also been involved in the founding of other companies through his venture capital firm, Founders Fund.

### Q: What is Peter Thiel's net worth?
A: Peter Thiel's net worth is estimated to be $23.9 billion as of 2025, according to Forbes.

### Q: What is Peter Thiel's role in the PayPal Mafia?
A: Peter Thiel is a member of the PayPal Mafia, a group of entrepreneurs who co-founded PayPal and later founded other successful companies. The group includes Elon Musk, Max Levchin, and Kevin Systrom.

## Why They Matter
Peter Thiel has had a significant impact on the technology industry through his founding of PayPal and Palantir Technologies. His venture capital firm, Founders Fund, has invested in numerous successful companies, including Facebook (now Meta) and SpaceX. Thiel's political ideology has also influenced the libertarian movement, and he has been involved in political activism. His contributions to the technology industry and his influence on political thought have made him a notable figure in both fields.

## Notable For
- Co-founded PayPal, which was acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002
- Co-founded Palantir Technologies, a data analytics company used by the U.S. government
- Founded Founders Fund, a venture capital firm that has invested in companies like Facebook (now Meta) and SpaceX
- Member of the Steering Committee of the Bilderberg Meetings
- Influential libertarian thinker and political activist

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Peter Thiel was born on October 11, 1967, in Frankfurt, West Germany. He moved to the United States in 1970 and attended San Mateo High School in California. Thiel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School.

### Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital
Thiel co-founded PayPal in 2000, which was acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002. He later co-founded Palantir Technologies in 2003, a data analytics company used by the U.S. government. Thiel has been a prominent venture capitalist, investing in companies like Facebook (now Meta) and SpaceX. He has also founded Founders Fund, a venture capital firm that has invested in numerous successful companies.

### Political Ideology and Activism
Peter Thiel's political ideology is libertarian conservatism, which combines free-market principles with conservative social values. He has been involved in political activism, including supporting libertarian and conservative causes. Thiel has been a member of the Steering Committee of the Bilderberg Meetings and has been involved in the founding of Students for Liberty, a libertarian student organization.

### Board Memberships and Influence
Thiel has been a board member of Meta and Palantir Technologies. He has also been involved in the founding of other companies through his venture capital firm, Founders Fund. Thiel's contributions to the technology industry and his influence on political thought have made him a notable figure in both fields.

## References

1. [Encouraging young entrepreneurs to leave school: $100,000 drop-outs. 2011](http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2011/05/encouraging_young_entrepreneurs_leave_school)
2. [The Rise of the Thielists. 2021](https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-populism/the-rise-of-the-thielists)
3. Catalog of the German National Library
4. Integrated Authority File
5. [Source](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11788688)
6. datos.bne.es
7. [Source](https://investor.fb.com/investor-news/press-release-details/2022/Peter-Thiel-to-Retire-from-Meta-Board-of-Directors-at-2022-Annual-Shareholder-Meeting/default.aspx)
8. [Source](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1326801/000132680122000043/meta2022definitiveproxysta.htm)
9. [Source](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-10-07/peter-thiel-criticizes-harvard-business-school-praises-aspergers)
10. Czech National Authority Database
11. [Source](https://foundersfund.com/team/peter-thiel/)
12. Virtual International Authority File
13. CiNii Research
14. [Source](https://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/steering-committee.html)
15. LittleSis
16. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
17. Munzinger Personen
18. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
19. [Peter A. Thiel | Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL2976628A/Peter_A._Thiel)
20. [What Is It About Peter Thiel? | The New Yorker](https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-silicon-valley/what-is-it-about-peter-thiel)
21. ratings.fide.com
22. Davos 2013 Participant List
23. BBC Things
24. [The Forbes List 2025. Forbes. 2025](https://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/)
25. Ballotpedia
26. The Guardian
27. [Source](https://news.google.com/topics/CAAqJggKIiBDQkFTRWdvSkwyMHZNREozT0cwMkVnVmxiaTFIUWlnQVAB?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen)
28. [Source](https://www.podchaser.com/creators/peter-thiel-107ZzkEbdR/appearances)