History of Alex Karp in Timeline

Alexander Karp is an American businessman and entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder and CEO of Palantir Technologies, a software firm he established in 2003 with Peter Thiel. Before Palantir, Karp invested in startups and stocks. His leadership at Palantir has earned him recognition, including a spot on Time magazine's 2025 Time 100 list of the world's most influential people.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

October 2, 1967: Alexander Karp's Birth

On October 2, 1967, Alexander Caedmon Karp was born, marking the beginning of the life of the American businessman and entrepreneur.

Others born on this day/year

1985: Graduation from Central High School

In 1985, Alexander Karp graduated from Central High School in Philadelphia, marking the completion of his secondary education.

1989: Earned Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy

In 1989, Alexander Karp earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Haverford College in Haverford, Pennsylvania, marking a significant achievement in his academic pursuits.

1992: Earned Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School

In 1992, Alexander Karp earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Stanford Law School, solidifying his legal education.

2001: Returned to the U.S. for Work

In 2001, Alexander Karp decided to return to the U.S. for work after living in Frankfurt from the mid-1990s, marking a significant decision regarding his career and location.

2002: Earned Ph.D. from Goethe University Frankfurt

In 2002, Alexander Karp earned a Ph.D. in neoclassical social theory from Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany, marking the culmination of his doctoral studies.

2003: Karp co-founded Palantir Technologies

In 2003, Alexander Karp co-founded Palantir Technologies with Peter Thiel, marking a significant milestone in his career as an entrepreneur in the software industry.

2004: Co-founded Palantir Technologies

In 2004, Alexander Karp co-founded Palantir Technologies, becoming its CEO and marking a pivotal moment in his entrepreneurial career.

2018: Identified as Socialist and Progressive

In 2018, Alexander Karp identified himself as a socialist and a progressive, stating that he voted for Hillary Clinton.

2019: Would vote for the CDU in Germany

In 2019, Alexander Karp stated that he would vote for the CDU in Germany, indicating a shift in his political affiliations.

2019: EU Delegation Contacted Palantir

In 2019, when the EU delegation visited Washington, the only private company they contacted was Palantir, showcasing the close proximity between Karp and his company Palantir with EU leaders.

2020: Highest-Paid CEO of a Publicly Traded Company

In 2020, The New York Times ranked Alexander Karp as the highest-paid CEO of a publicly traded company, coinciding with Palantir Technologies going public, with compensation worth $1.1 billion.

June 2022: Met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy

In June 2022, Alexander Karp became the first CEO of a major Western company to meet with president Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, highlighting his involvement in international affairs.

December 2023: Condemned Pro-Palestinian Protests

In December 2023, during demonstrations at Columbia University in Manhattan, New York, Alexander Karp strongly condemned pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses, calling their views a 'pagan religion' and 'an infection inside of our society'.

2023: Remarks at Reagan National Defense Forum

At the 2023 edition of the Reagan National Defense Forum, Alexander Karp criticized the corporate elite for prioritizing profit over standing up for their country, advocating for a change in mindset.

2024: Criticism for Selling Palantir Shares

In 2024, Alex Karp faced criticism for selling $1.9 billion worth of Palantir shares.

2024: Subject of German documentary film

In 2024, Alex Karp was the subject of a German documentary film, 'Watching You: The World of Palantir and Alex Karp', directed by Klaus Stern, which explores Palantir's influence and Karp's career.

2024: Remarks on the Gaza War

In 2024, Alexander Karp made a number of remarks on the Gaza war strongly supporting Israel and condemning the pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses.

2024: Remarks on Western Superiority and Potential War

In 2024, Alexander Karp stated that he and Palantir hold 'a consistently pro-Western view' and predicted a potential three-front war against China, Russia, and Iran, advocating for the development of autonomous weapons and military conscription.

2024: Ranked 1143rd on Forbes Billionaires List

In 2024, Alexander Karp was ranked 1143rd on the Forbes annual World's Billionaires List, with a net worth of $2.9 billion.

2024: Highest-Paid CEO in the United States

In 2024, Alexander Karp was recognized as the highest-paid CEO of a publicly traded company in the United States, with a 'compensation actually paid' of almost $6.8 billion. He was also chosen as The Economist's CEO of the Year.

2024: Identified as a major Biden donor

In 2024, the Financial Times identified Alexander Karp as 'a major Biden donor', and he expressed his intention to vote against Trump, while calling for the Democrats to project more strength.

2024: Karp jokes about owning multiple houses

In 2024, when a reporter noted that Karp owned 10 houses around the world, he joked about reframing it as owning 10 cross-country ski huts.

February 2025: Remarks about drones and analysts

In February 2025, Alex Karp made controversial comments about using drones to spray fentanyl-laced urine on analysts who he felt were harming his company.

February 2025: Publication of 'The Technological Republic'

In February 2025, Alex Karp, along with Nicholas Zamiska, published 'The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West'. The book critiques Silicon Valley and argues for software industry partnership with government.

September 2025: Karp Calls on German Leaders to 'Talk About the Crisis'

In September 2025, Alex Karp urged German leaders to address the economic crisis. He proposed promoting founders and business leaders, creating technological zones with fewer regulations, developing specialized micromodels focusing on Germany's industrial strengths, informing the public about the economic crisis, and countering misguided policies on immigration, energy, and technology.

November 2025: Remarks on Trump and the Democratic Party

In November 2025, Alexander Karp expressed in an interview with Wired that he would highlight to family members that Trump's decisions on AI and the Middle East were 'very different than people in the Democratic Party would have made, and very good'. He also stated that he would consider the Democratic Party to have left him if the Zohran Mamdani wing took over.

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November 2025: Interviewed by Biographer Michael Steinberger

In November 2025, Alexander Karp was interviewed by his biographer Michael Steinberger, whose book 'The Philosopher in the Valley: Alex Karp, Palantir, and the Rise of the Surveillance State' was published the same month, and cited the Democrats' unresponsiveness to immigration, Iran, and antisemitism as reasons for his disillusion with the party.

2025: Karp in Long-Term Relationships

As of 2025, Alex Karp is in long-term relationships with two women, described as being geographically monogamous.

2025: Receives Lamplighter Award

In 2025, Alex Karp received the Lamplighter award, presented by Rabbi Levi Shemtov.

2025: Condemned 'Woke' Ways of Thinking

In 2025, Alexander Karp condemned 'woke' ways of thinking, calling them the central risk to his company Palantir and to the United States as a whole. He adopted the framing woke left and woke right, categorizing both as '[opposed to] meritocracy'.

2025: Views himself as a classic liberal

In 2025, Alexander Karp stated that he views himself as a 'classic liberal'.

2025: Named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2025, Alexander Karp was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people, recognizing his impact and influence in the world.

2025: Net Worth Exceeded $18 Billion

In 2025, Alexander Karp's net worth at times exceeded $18 billion, ranking him among the 200 wealthiest people in the world on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

2025: Documentary Explores Karp's Network in Germany

In 2025, the documentary 'Watching You: The World of Palantir and Alex Karp' explores the political and business network that Alexander Karp has built in Germany.

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2025: Controversy at Bilderberg Meeting

In 2025, the secret meeting between Alexander Karp, Peter Thiel, and Sweden's prime minister Ulf Kristersson at the Bilderberg Meeting caused controversies in Sweden.