Early Life and Education of Peter Thiel: A Complete Timeline

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Peter Thiel

An overview of the childhood and early education of Peter Thiel, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Peter Thiel is a German-American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and political activist. Best known as a co-founder of PayPal, Palantir Technologies, and Founders Fund, he also made an early, pivotal investment in . Thiel's significant net worth places him among the world's wealthiest individuals. His influence extends beyond business; he's considered a key intellectual figure in shaping Silicon Valley's modern culture and philosophy, especially related to technological innovation and libertarian politics.

October 1967: Birth in Frankfurt am Main

In October 1967, Peter Andreas Thiel was born in Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, then part of West Germany.

Others born on this day/year

October 1967: Peter Thiel's birth

Peter Andreas Thiel was born on October 1967.

Others born on this day/year

1971: Family Moved to South Africa and South West Africa

In 1971, Thiel's family moved to South Africa and then South West Africa.

1977: Family Moved Back to the US

In 1977, Thiel's family moved back to the United States.

1977: Settled in Foster City, California

In 1977, the Thiel family settled in Foster City, California, after living in South Africa and South West Africa during apartheid.

1985: Valedictorian of Graduating Class

In 1985, Peter Thiel was the valedictorian of his graduating class at San Mateo High School.

1987: Co-founded The Stanford Review

In 1987, Peter Thiel co-founded The Stanford Review, a conservative and libertarian newspaper.

1989: Graduated from Stanford University

In 1989, Peter Thiel graduated from Stanford University.

1992: Graduated from Stanford Law School

In 1992, Peter Thiel graduated from Stanford Law School with a Juris Doctor degree.

1996: Returned to California

In 1996, Peter Thiel returned to California.

2003: Last chess competition

In 2003, Peter Thiel, who holds the title of Life Master, last competed in chess.

2007: Gawker article outing Thiel

In 2007, Gawker published an article publicly outing Peter Thiel, headlined "Peter Thiel is totally gay, people."

September 2010: Creation of Thiel Fellowship

On 29 September 2010, Peter Thiel created the Thiel Fellowship, offering $100,000 over two years to young people to drop out of college and start their own ventures.

August 2011: New Zealand citizenship granted in private ceremony

In August 2011, Peter Thiel received New Zealand citizenship in a private ceremony at the New Zealand consulate in Santa Monica, California. Then-Minister of Internal Affairs Nathan Guy waived normal residency requirements under an "exceptional circumstances" clause of the Citizenship Act.

2011: Religious beliefs

As of 2011, Peter Thiel described his religious beliefs as "somewhat heterodox", affirming his belief in Christianity but not feeling the need to convince others.

2011: Granted New Zealand Citizenship

In 2011, Peter Thiel was granted New Zealand citizenship, which later became controversial.

2011: Citizenship application and investments in New Zealand

In 2011, Peter Thiel's New Zealand citizenship application cited his contribution to the economy through a venture capital fund in Auckland, investments in local companies, and a donation to the Christchurch earthquake appeal fund. Xero founder Rod Drury provided a formal reference.

2012: Teaching CS 183: Startup at Stanford University

In spring 2012, Peter Thiel taught the class CS 183: Startup at Stanford University. Notes from the course, taken by student Blake Masters, would become the basis for the book Zero to One.

2014: Interest in anti-aging research

At the Venture Alpha West 2014 conference, Peter Thiel expressed his desire to make progress in anti-aging research and revealed that he is registered for cryonic preservation with Alcor Life Extension Foundation.

2015: Purchase of estate near Wānaka

In 2015, Peter Thiel purchased a 193-hectare estate near Wānaka, New Zealand. As a citizen, he did not require permission from New Zealand's Overseas Investment Office.

2015: 1517 Fund founded with backing from Thiel

In 2015, the 1517 Fund was founded by Danielle Strachman and Michael Gibson, both from the Thiel Fellowship founding team. Peter Thiel backs the fund, which provides cash grants and investments to "dropouts, renegade students, and deep tech scientists".

May 2016: Thiel confirmed funding of Hulk Hogan's lawsuit against Gawker

In May 2016, Peter Thiel confirmed in an interview with The New York Times that he had paid $10 million in legal expenses to finance Hulk Hogan's lawsuit against Gawker Media.

August 2016: Gawker announced closing due to lawsuit

In August 2016, Gawker announced it was permanently closing due to the lawsuit funded by Peter Thiel.

November 2016: Ceremonial first move at World Chess Championship 2016

On November 30, 2016, Peter Thiel made the ceremonial first move in the first tiebreak game of the World Chess Championship 2016 between Sergey Karjakin and Magnus Carlsen.

2016: Apology for statements in 'The Diversity Myth'

In 2016, Peter Thiel apologized for insensitive statements he made in the book "The Diversity Myth" regarding the rape crisis movement and multicultural rape charges, stating that he wished he'd never written those things and that rape in all forms is a crime.

The Diversity Myth: Multiculturalism and the Politics of Intolerance at Stanford
The Diversity Myth: Multiculturalism and the Politics of Intolerance at Stanford

2016: Interest in parabiosis

In a 2016 interview, Peter Thiel expressed interest in the science of parabiosis, including young blood transfusion, for potential health benefits.

October 2017: Marriage to Matt Danzeisen

In October 2017, Peter Thiel married his long-time partner, Matt Danzeisen, in Vienna, Austria, on Thiel's 50th birthday.

2017: Citizenship status made public

In 2017, Peter Thiel's New Zealand citizenship status, obtained in August 2011, was made public.

2018: Move to Los Angeles

In 2018, Peter Thiel moved from San Francisco to Los Angeles, citing intolerance of conservatives, insularity, and high prices in San Francisco.

2021: Roth IRA investment revealed by ProPublica

In 2021, ProPublica revealed that Peter Thiel had purchased 1.7 million founder's shares in PayPal using $1,700 in a Roth IRA in 1999. The investment grew to over $5 billion by 2019.

2022: Endorsement of Blake Masters' Senate campaign

In 2022, Peter Thiel endorsed Blake Masters' campaign in the 2022 United States Senate election in Arizona, donating more than $10 million.

2022: Satirical song 'Right time to Thiel' released

In 2022, after Thiel hired former Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz for Thiel Capital, Jan Böhmermann of the ZDF wrote and performed the satirical song "Right time to Thiel" that portrayed Thiel as a James Bond villain.

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March 2023: Death of Jeff Thomas

In March 2023, Jeff Thomas, Peter Thiel's partner from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, passed away suddenly.

June 2024: Two daughters aged five and three

As of June 2024, Peter Thiel and Matt Danzeisen have two young daughters, aged five and three, born through a surrogate.

August 2025: Four children

In August 2025, it was reported that Peter Thiel has four children.

September 2025: Talks on the Antichrist, Armageddon and Apocalypse

In September 2025, Peter Thiel gave talks on the Antichrist, Armageddon, and Apocalypse as part of a series of off-the-record private lectures organized by David Wood's Acts 17 Collective in San Francisco, which drew a group of protesters. He discussed his views on various apocalyptic threats and the concept of the Katechon as a restrainer of the Antichrist.

2025: Increased Fellowship Amount

As of 2025, the Thiel Fellowship provides $200,000 to young people over two years to drop out of college and start their own ventures.