History of Joe Lonsdale in Timeline

Joe Lonsdale is an American entrepreneur and venture capitalist known for co-founding several prominent technology companies. These include Palantir Technologies, a data analytics firm; Addepar, a wealth management technology company; and OpenGov, a government technology platform. He is also the co-founder and managing partner of 8VC, a technology investment firm that focuses on investing in and supporting innovative companies. Lonsdale's career highlights his focus on building and investing in technology-driven solutions across various sectors.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1982: Year of Birth

Joseph Lonsdale was born in either 1982 or 1983.

1983: Year of Birth

Joseph Lonsdale was born in either 1982 or 1983.

1987: The Stanford Review Co-founded by Peter Thiel

In 1987, Peter Thiel co-founded The Stanford Review, a newspaper where Joe Lonsdale served as editor-in-chief from 2002 to 2003, and eventually became Lonsdale's mentor.

2002: Editor-in-chief of The Stanford Review

From 2002 to 2003, Joe Lonsdale served as editor-in-chief of The Stanford Review, a student-run newspaper.

2003: Editor-in-chief of The Stanford Review

From 2002 to 2003, Joe Lonsdale served as editor-in-chief of The Stanford Review, a student-run newspaper.

2004: Graduated from Stanford University

In 2004, Joe Lonsdale graduated from Stanford University with a degree in computer science.

2004: Began Palantir Technologies Prototype

In 2004, Joe Lonsdale started working on a prototype for Palantir Technologies, a data mining and defense technology company he co-founded. Palantir aimed to apply fraud detection techniques from PayPal to national security and law enforcement.

2004: Co-founded Palantir Technologies

In 2004, Joe Lonsdale, along with Peter Thiel, Alex Karp, Stephen Cohen, and Nathan Gettings, co-founded Palantir Technologies, a data mining and defense technology company.

2009: Co-founded Addepar

In 2009, Joe Lonsdale co-founded Addepar, a wealth management and data analytics platform, with Jason Mirra.

2009: Left Palantir and Co-founded Addepar

In 2009, Joe Lonsdale left Palantir Technologies, where he was an early executive, and co-founded Addepar, a wealth management technology company.

2009: Left Palantir

In 2009, Joe Lonsdale left Palantir, though he continued to hold an advisory role and a stake in the company.

2010: Palantir Valued at $1 Billion

By 2010, Palantir, where Joe Lonsdale made much of his fortune, was valued at $1 billion.

2011: Co-founded Formation 8

In 2011, Joe Lonsdale co-founded the venture capital firm Formation 8.

2012: Co-founded OpenGov

In 2012, Joe Lonsdale and Zachary Bookman co-founded OpenGov, a company offering cloud-based software for government budgeting. Lonsdale served as chairman of the board.

2012: Began Relationship With Student

In 2012, Joe Lonsdale began a consensual relationship with Elise "Ellie" Clougherty, while she was an undergraduate and he was her mentor in a technology entrepreneurship class.

2012: Included in Forbes' "30 Under 30" List

In 2012, Joe Lonsdale was included in Forbes' "30 Under 30" list.

May 2013: Ex-Girlfriend Reported Sexual Assault

In May 2013, Joe Lonsdale's ex-girlfriend, Elise "Ellie" Clougherty, reported to Stanford University that Lonsdale had sexually assaulted and harassed her while she was an undergraduate.

2013: Became Chairman of Addepar

In 2013, Joe Lonsdale became chairman of Addepar and left his role as CEO.

December 2014: Formation 8 Raised $500 Million Fund

In December 2014, Formation 8, co-founded by Joe Lonsdale, raised a second fund of $500 million.

January 2015: Clougherty Sued Lonsdale Over Alleged Sexual Assault

In January 2015, Elise Clougherty sued Joe Lonsdale over alleged sexual assault. Lonsdale denied the allegations and countersued for defamation.

November 2015: Lawsuit Dropped and Campus Ban Lifted

In November 2015, Elise Clougherty dropped her lawsuit against Joe Lonsdale, and Lonsdale dropped his countersuit. Stanford lifted its campus ban, citing new evidence.

November 2015: Formation 8 Shut Down

In November 2015, Formation 8 shut down due to differences in investment styles and interpersonal conflicts between Joe Lonsdale and Brian Koo, stemming from a sexual assault allegation against Lonsdale and a failed investment by Koo.

2015: Co-founded 8VC

In 2015, Joe Lonsdale co-founded 8VC with 15 employees from Formation 8, shortly after Formation 8 broke up.

September 2016: Married Tayler Cox

In September 2016, Joe Lonsdale married Tayler Cox, who also edited the Stanford Review and worked at Palantir.

2016: Founded Cicero Institute

In 2016, Joe Lonsdale founded the Cicero Institute, a conservative think tank, and runs it with his wife, Tayler.

2016: Included in Forbes' "Richest Entrepreneurs Under 40" List

In 2016, Joe Lonsdale was included in Forbes' "Richest Entrepreneurs Under 40" list.

2017: Described as "Leaning Right"

In 2017, Joe Lonsdale was described as "lean[ing] right" and a "politically conservative contrarian" in Business Insider.

November 2020: Announced Move to Austin, Texas

In November 2020, Joe Lonsdale announced that he was moving his family, 8VC, and the Cicero Institute from the Bay Area to Austin, Texas, citing California's "bad policies [that] discourage business and innovation", worsening public safety, high taxes, and a deteriorating quality of life as primary factors in his decision.

2020: Moved to Austin, Texas

In 2020, Joe Lonsdale and his family, including his wife Tayler, moved from the Bay Area in California to Austin, Texas.

2020: Relocated 8VC Headquarters to Austin, Texas

In 2020, Joe Lonsdale relocated 8VC's headquarters from San Francisco to Austin, Texas, shortly after moving there with his family.

2021: Included in Forbes' "Midas List"

In 2021, Joe Lonsdale was included in Forbes' "Midas List".

2021: Described as Critic of 'Woke' Politics

In 2021, The Guardian described Joe Lonsdale as "a regular critic of 'woke' politics".

2022: Dropped off Forbes' "Midas List"

In 2022, Joe Lonsdale dropped off Forbes' "Midas List".

2023: Co-founded University of Austin

In 2023, Joe Lonsdale, Bari Weiss, and others co-founded the University of Austin, dedicated to freedom of thought and discussion.

August 2024: Cicero Institute's Template Bills Introduced and Passed

As of August 2024, bills based on the Cicero Institute's template for state legislation have been introduced in fifteen states and passed in eight.

2024: Supported Elon Musk's America PAC

In 2024, Joe Lonsdale joined other venture capitalists and tech executives in supporting Elon Musk's America PAC, backing Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and contributed $1 million.