Peter Andreas Thiel is a German-American businessman, the self-made billionaire Co-founder of PayPal, Co-founder of Palantir Technologies (NYSE: PLTR), and Founder of Thiel Capital (venture capital). Born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1967, his career is rooted in elite law, finance, and radical technological disruption.

Thiel graduated from Stanford University (1989) and earned a J.D. Law degree from Stanford Law School (1992). His philosophical approach centers on monopoly creation, contrarianism, and long-term investment in foundational technology (AI, defense, biotechnology). His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the online payment system (PayPal) and the digital data analysis/defense sector (Palantir).

• PayPal (Co-founder & Former Executive): The foundational source of his wealth (sold to eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002).
• Palantir Technologies (Co-founder & Former Chairman): The core publicly traded asset, a global leader in data analysis and government intelligence software (a major defense/intelligence contractor).
• Founders Fund (Founder): His venture capital firm specializing in contrarian investments (betting on companies with potential for monopoly).
• Philanthropy: He founded the Thiel Fellowship (encouraging students to drop out of college to start companies).

Peter Thiel's strategic genius was his commitment to technological disruption. 1998: PayPal. He co-founded PayPal (with Max Levchin, Elon Musk, and others), serving as CEO and successfully selling it to eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002. 2004: Palantir. He co-founded Palantir, recognizing the structural need for advanced data analysis software for government intelligence and defense. 2005: Founders Fund. He founded Founders Fund, articulating his philosophy of investing in companies that seek to create monopolies.

His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the online payment system, data intelligence software, and contrarian venture capital. His wealth is secured by the colossal liquid gains from the PayPal sale and the long-term appreciation of his stakes in Palantir, Facebook, and his numerous VC investments.

Peter Thiel's social impact is structural, stemming from PayPal's role in pioneering online payments and Palantir's role in providing essential government data analysis and defense technology. His Thiel Foundation and the Thiel Fellowship (which gives grants to young entrepreneurs who drop out of college) provide a major structural contribution to entrepreneurship and technology funding. His structural contribution is tied to his belief in technological acceleration and political conservatism.

His personal philanthropy supports various educational and community initiatives.

Peter Thiel maintains the professional, composed style of a financial executive. His attire is consistently bespoke, favoring dark, tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and intellectual depth, typical of a pioneer in the global tech and finance sectors.

Residing in Miami, Florida (and traveling globally), his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to investment strategy, political influence, and technological disruption.