Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Peter Thiel
Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Peter Thiel.
Peter Thiel is a prominent American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and political activist known for co-founding PayPal, Palantir Technologies, and Founders Fund. He was also the first outside investor in Facebook. As of February 2025, his estimated net worth is $20.5 billion, ranking him among the wealthiest individuals globally. Thiel's activities span technology, finance, and politics, making him a significant figure in multiple domains.
1995: Thiel and Sacks publish 'The Diversity Myth'
In 1995, Thiel and David O. Sacks published 'The Diversity Myth,' a book criticizing political correctness and multiculturalism in higher education.
1995: Published "The Diversity Myth"
In 1995, the Independent Institute published The Diversity Myth: Multiculturalism and the Politics of Intolerance at Stanford, which Thiel co-authored with David O. Sacks. The book critiques political correctness and multiculturalism in higher education.
2007: Gawker article publicly outs Thiel
In 2007, Gawker published an article publicly outing Thiel, headlined "Peter Thiel is totally gay, people."
2009: Thiel funds James O'Keefe's video
In 2009, it was reported that Thiel helped fund college student James O'Keefe's "Taxpayers Clearing House" video, a satirical look at the Wall Street bailout.
2009: Thiel essay on freedom and democracy
In a 2009 essay, Thiel stated he no longer believed freedom and democracy were compatible, focusing on new technologies for a "new space for freedom" beyond current politics, an essay referenced by neo-reactionary theorists.
2010: Thiel invites Ann Coulter to Homocon
In 2010, Thiel invited conservative columnist Ann Coulter to Homocon as a guest speaker.
May 2016: Thiel confirms funding lawsuits against Gawker
In May 2016, Thiel confirmed that he had paid $10 million in legal expenses to finance lawsuits against Gawker Media, including Hulk Hogan's lawsuit.
August 2016: Gawker closes due to Hogan lawsuit
In August 2016, Gawker announced it was permanently closing due to the $140 million judgment in the Hulk Hogan lawsuit, which Thiel financially supported.
August 2016: Thiel defends online privacy in NYT opinion piece
On 15 August 2016, Thiel published an opinion piece in The New York Times arguing for the defense of online privacy beyond just the Gawker case, highlighting his support for the Intimate Privacy Protection Act.
2016: Apologized for statements in "The Diversity Myth"
In 2016, Thiel apologized for insensitive statements he made in "The Diversity Myth" regarding the rape crisis movement and multicultural rape charges.
2017: Thiel invests in Clearview AI
In 2017, Thiel became an early outside investor in Clearview AI, a facial recognition technology startup that has raised concerns due to its potential for weaponization.
2020: Thiel supports candidates with voter fraud claims
By February 2022, Thiel supported 16 senatorial and congressional candidates, several of whom were proponents of the falsehood that there was significant voter fraud in the 2020 election.
2021: Thiel Reportedly Became FBI Informant
In 2021, Business Insider reported that Thiel became an FBI informant.
February 2022: Thiel donates to Republican candidates
By February 2022, Thiel was one of the largest donors to Republican candidates in the 2022 election campaign with more than $20.4 million in contributions.
2023: Thiel pulls back from political donations
In 2023, Thiel indicated he "has lost interest in democracy" and that "he wouldn’t be giving money to any politician, including Donald Trump, in the next presidential campaign" after disagreeing with the Republican party's focus on cultural issues.
