Overview

Peter Andreas Thiel (born October 11, 1967) is an American entrepreneur, investor and author known for co‑founding several technology companies and venture firms. He first rose to public attention as a founder and chief executive of PayPal and later helped launch the data‑analysis firm Palantir. Thiel has been an active investor, a partner in multiple venture funds, and a public figure because of his political donations and public commentary.

Early life and education

Thiel was born in Frankfurt, West Germany, and moved with his family to the United States during childhood. He spent part of his youth living in Southern Africa before returning to the U.S. for higher education. He attended Stanford University, where he completed a B.A. in philosophy in 1989 and later graduated from Stanford Law School with a J.D. in 1992. Early in his career he worked as a lawyer, a speechwriter, and in financial trading.

Career and companies

Thiel co‑founded PayPal in the late 1990s, serving as its first chief executive officer and helping guide the company through growth and eventual sale to eBay in 2002. After the PayPal exit he founded investment and trading firms including Thiel Capital and Clarium Capital, and in 2004 he launched Palantir, a company that builds tools for large‑scale big data integration and analysis.

He also played a founding role in several investment firms: the Silicon Valley venture firm Founders Fund, the later stage firm Mithril Capital, and international investor Valar Ventures. Thiel has remained involved with many of these organizations as founder, partner, or board member.

Investing and influence

Thiel was the first significant outside backer of Facebook, acquiring an early stake that proved highly lucrative as the company grew. His investing style has been described as contrarian and concentrated: he has made large early bets on a handful of companies rather than broad diversified portfolios. Through his funds and personal capital he has supported startups in software, finance, biotechnology and infrastructure.

  • Notable company roles: co‑founder and former CEO of PayPal; chairman and early leader at Palantir.
  • Investment activities span seed, venture and growth stages through multiple firms.

Politics, controversies and public life

Thiel is an outspoken figure beyond business, known for his writings and for supporting political causes and candidates. He has funded litigation and advocacy efforts that generated national attention and controversy, including financial support for a high‑profile lawsuit that led to the bankruptcy of a media outlet. He publicly supported the 2016 presidential campaign of Donald Trump, a move that drew both praise and criticism within the technology community and media.

Writings and legacy

Thiel co‑authored and influenced publications and lectures on startups, competition and technology. His book "Zero to One"—based in part on lectures and notes from Stanford—presents his views on innovation, monopoly, and entrepreneurship. By mentoring founders, backing early teams and participating in public debates, Thiel has had a lasting influence on Silicon Valley thinking about startups, investment and the relationship between technology and public policy.

Notable facts

  1. He has founded and helped fund multiple firms spanning operating companies and investment vehicles.
  2. Estimates of his personal wealth have placed him among the billionaire class in recent decades, though figures vary over time.
  3. Thiel remains a polarizing public figure because of his combined roles as an investor, donor and commentator on technology and politics.

For a concise introduction to companies and organizations associated with Thiel, see entries on PayPal, big data firms like Palantir, and venture capital entities such as Founders Fund. More detailed profiles and timelines are available through business and technology publications and biographical resources.