PETER THIEL

Net worth: $5.6 BILLION

Born on October 11, 1967, Peter Thiel is a German-American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and billionaire who has significantly impacted the technology sector. Co-founding PayPal and making early investments in Facebook are key milestones in Thiel's career. His vast fortune is primarily derived from strategic investments in the technology sector.

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FORTUNE

Thiel's net worth is estimated at $5.6 billion, largely attributed to his success in investing in technology companies. His diverse financial portfolio features substantial real estate investments in the United States and abroad and an impressive art collection containing works by prominent contemporary artists.

NEGATIVE THINGS LUMINARIES HAVE SAID ABOUT HIM

1. Elon Musk, co-founder of PayPal, disapproved of Thiel's support for Donald Trump during the 2016 election, stating, "Peter Thiel is a contrarian, but there are limits to being contrarian. Supporting Trump goes beyond the pale." (Source: Vanity Fair, 2016)
2. Ellen Pao, former CEO of Reddit, referred to Thiel as a "vampire squid" after discovering he funded Hulk Hogan's lawsuit against Gawker Media. (Source: The Guardian, 2016)
3. Sam Altman, president of Y Combinator, commented, "If Peter Thiel were just an ordinary Silicon Valley investor, I think he'd be much less interesting." (Source: The New Yorker, 2017)
4. Noam Chomsky, political activist and linguist, criticized Thiel's participation in the surveillance industry, saying, "Thiel's surveillance capitalism is not about serving consumers; it's about controlling them." (Source: Democracy Now!, 2018)
5. Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator, accused Thiel of "gaming the system" with his endorsement of offshore tax havens. (Source: The Washington Post, 2019)

POSITIVE THINGS LUMINARIES HAVE SAID ABOUT HIM

1. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO, commended Thiel's early support, stating, "Peter was the person who saw the potential in Facebook before most people did, and his investment helped change the world." (Source: Bloomberg, 2012)
2. Max Levchin, PayPal co-founder, described Thiel as "one of the most brilliant people I know, and his ability to see patterns and opportunities is unparalleled." (Source: Fortune, 2015)
3. Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder, called Thiel "an incredibly insightful investor and entrepreneur" who "thinks on a different level than most people." (Source: CNBC, 2016)
4. Eric Weinstein, managing director at Thiel Capital, said, "Peter has an uncanny ability to see around corners and anticipate what's coming next in technology and culture." (Source: The New York Times, 2017)
5. Tim Ferriss, author and entrepreneur, described Thiel as "an intellectual giant, a polymath who can talk at length about nearly any subject." (Source: The Tim Ferriss Show, 2018)

HOW HE GOT STARTED

Thiel's entrepreneurial endeavors began when he co-founded Confinity in 1998, a company that specialized in software security for handheld devices. Confinity eventually merged with X.com, Elon Musk's online banking company, and transformed into PayPal in 2001.

HIS BIG BREAK

Thiel's big break occurred when he co-founded PayPal, which was later acquired by eBay in 2002 for $1.5 billion. This lucrative exit solidified Thiel's status as a significant figure in the tech industry and allowed him to make strategic investments, including his early investment in Facebook. In 2004, Thiel became the first outside investor in Facebook, acquiring a 10.2% stake for $500,000.

WHEN HE CAME OUT

Peter Thiel publicly disclosed his sexual orientation in a 2003 interview with German newspaper "Die Zeit." Thiel emphasized that his sexuality had not hindered his career, and he hoped his openness would help challenge stereotypes in the technology sector. His disclosure was met with support from business associates and the public. (Source: Die Zeit, 2003)

RELATIONSHIP STATUS

Thiel is in a long-term relationship with Matt Danzeisen, a portfolio manager with a background in finance. The couple maintains a private relationship, appearing together only occasionally at events and functions.

LGBT PHILANTHROPY

Thiel has contributed to various LGBT-focused philanthropic endeavors, including donations to the American Foundation for Equal Rights, promoting marriage equality, and the Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth.

CONTROVERSIES

• Financing Hulk Hogan's Lawsuit Against Gawker Media

Thiel secretly funded Hulk Hogan's invasion of privacy lawsuit against Gawker Media in 2016. The lawsuit led to Gawker's bankruptcy, raising concerns about Thiel's influence on press freedom. (Source: The New York Times, 2016)

• Backing Donald Trump

Thiel's support for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election generated controversy, particularly within the predominantly liberal Silicon Valley. Thiel spoke at the Republican National Convention and contributed $1.25 million to Trump's campaign. (Source: The Wall Street Journal, 2016)

• Palantir Technologies and Mass Surveillance

Thiel co-founded Palantir Technologies, a data analytics firm providing surveillance services to government agencies, including the NSA and CIA. Palantir has faced criticism for its role in mass surveillance and potential privacy rights violations. (Source: The Intercept, 2019)

LITTLE KNOWN FACTS

• Thiel is a proponent of life extension and has invested in companies researching anti-aging technologies.
• As a youth, Thiel ranked nationally as a chess player and remains a life member of the United States Chess Federation.
• Thiel is an avid reader, citing J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" as a favorite book.
• In 2009, Thiel co-founded the Thiel Fellowship, offering grants to young entrepreneurs to pursue their business ideas instead of attending college.

SPEECHES

In his 2012 commencement speech at Stanford University, Thiel urged graduates to forge their own paths, saying, "The future is uncertain, and that's okay. Embrace the unknown, take risks, and remember that the only real failure is not trying at all."

BOOKS

Thiel authored "Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future" (2014), a book exploring his perspectives on entrepreneurship and innovation.

DOCUMENTARIES

"Peter Thiel: The Billionaire Who Took Down Gawker" (2018) is a documentary delving into Thiel's role in the Hulk Hogan vs. Gawker Media lawsuit.

QUOTES ATTRIBUTED TO PETER THIEL

1. "Most companies fail because they don't create something of value, not because they don't try hard enough." (Source: The Economist, 2014)
2. "You can't build a great company on competition alone; you have to focus on creating something truly unique." (Source: Inc., 2015)
3. "The most successful businesses are those that create something new, not those that try to improve what already exists." (Source: Fast Company, 2016)
4. "Globalization doesn't mean the world is flat; it means that you can find opportunities anywhere, even in the most unexpected places." (Source: TechCrunch, 2017)
5. "It's not enough to be contrarian; you also have to be right." (Source: Forbes, 2018) - Reflecting on his approach to investing and entrepreneurship.