Early Life and Education
Peter Andreas Thiel was born in Frankfurt, Germany, on October 11, 1967. When he was one year old, his family moved to the United States. Thiel later attended Stanford University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy in 1989 and a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School in 1992.
Rise to Success
Thiel's career began in the legal field and as a derivatives trader at Credit Suisse. In 1998, he co-founded PayPal, serving as its CEO until its acquisition by eBay in 2002. The sale made Thiel a multimillionaire. His success with PayPal allowed him to make early-stage investments in other ventures.
Key Business Strategies
Thiel is known for his contrarian views and emphasis on building monopolies through innovation rather than competition. He encourages entrepreneurs to focus on creating unique value propositions and developing proprietary technology. He started Thiel Capital in 1996. In 2004, he co-founded Palantir Technologies, a data analysis company, and was the first outside investor in Facebook.
Philanthropy
Thiel established the Thiel Foundation, which supports various initiatives, including the Thiel Fellowship, which provides funding for young entrepreneurs to forgo college and pursue their own ventures. He also supports research in anti-aging and longevity.