Peter Thiel initiates a major shift in U.S. politics from Silicon Valley

In Fall 2024, a scene at the White House Technology Conference drew significant attention. Among the prominent figures of Silicon Valley gathered in one place, Peter Thiel was notably absent. However, a close look at the individuals seated there reveals how deeply his influence has permeated. The CEOs of the companies present are graduates of Thiel’s educational programs, managers of investment funds he nurtured, and part of his ideological network.

Who is Peter Thiel? On the surface, he is a co-founder of PayPal and the investor who established the renowned venture capital firm Founders Fund. But his true essence goes beyond that. He is the person who linked Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial spirit with conservative ideology, transforming tech companies into tools of political power. As a result, the political and economic landscape of the United States is now undergoing a historic shift.

Integrated Strategy of Technology Investment and Political Ideology

Understanding Thiel’s strategy requires going back to his days at Stanford University. In 1987, he launched the magazine “Stanford Review,” which promoted neoconservatism and libertarianism within the university. On the surface, it was just a student newspaper, but it created a base of conservative ideology within the liberal campuses of the West Coast.

From this network emerged the “PayPal Mafia.” Key figures like Max Levchin, David Sacks, and Elon Musk strengthened their ideological ties here. Importantly, this was not merely a group of entrepreneurs but a fraternity sharing political ideology.

Thiel’s investment philosophy is unique. To him, venture capital is not just a means of profit but a strategic tool to oppose the decline of Western civilization. He envisions governance by “philosopher kings” as in ancient Greek city-states, and seeks to realize this vision in the modern era through technological power.

This ideological background is influenced by French philosopher René Girard and political philosopher Leo Strauss. Strauss, in particular, introduced Thiel to the idea of “the great revitalization of the West.” In other words, dismantling regulations and accelerating technological innovation to revive the waning Western civilization.

From PayPal to Palantir and into the AI Era: Thiel’s 30 Years

The launch of PayPal in 1999 was more than just an internet payment service. From Thiel’s perspective, it symbolized “freedom” from government regulation. The ability to send money freely via email challenged the traditional power structure of the banking system. By 2002, when PayPal was acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion, Thiel’s personal net worth had reached $55 million.

But economic success was not his ultimate goal; the real game began afterward. In 2003, he founded Palantir. At first glance, it appears to be a big data analytics company, but in reality, it was a platform connected to the U.S. government’s most powerful agencies like the CIA and State Department, used to exercise political influence through data control.

In 2004, Thiel invested $500,000 in Facebook, acquiring a 10.2% stake. This investment later valued Facebook at over $10 billion, demonstrating Thiel’s investment acumen. More importantly, it was not just about profits; it was about maintaining influence from the early stages of Meta’s rise.

In 2005, Thiel established Founders Fund, transforming it into an institution to secure dominance in the tech sector. Its purpose was not “making money” but investing in “technologies shaping the future of human civilization,” such as AI, cryptocurrencies, and advanced hardware. Next-generation tech leaders like Figma founder Dylan Field and Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin were nurtured as Thiel Scholars.

Today, Thiel’s net worth has reached $20.8 billion, ranking him 103rd globally. But more than the numbers, what matters is the scale of his political and economic network.

Silicon Valley’s New Power Structure Dominating Washington

The 2016 U.S. presidential election marked a strategic turning point for Thiel. While Silicon Valley largely supported the Democratic Party, he decided to invest in Donald Trump alone. This was not just a political gamble but a declaration of a power grab by the West Coast’s tech elite to replace the East Coast financial aristocracy (Wall Street).

Subsequently, Thiel focused on cultivating politician J.D. Vance. Vance became Trump’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2024 election and was successfully elected. At the same time, David Sacks, a former PayPal executive, was appointed as the U.S. Secretary of Cryptocurrency in the Trump administration.

The strategy behind these appointments is clear: to fuse Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial spirit with neoconservative ideology and transform Washington’s traditional power structure. Even after Trump’s defeat in 2020, Thiel did not withdraw his investments. In 2022, he strategically stepped back from Meta’s board, accelerating the shift toward a new, tech-centered power structure.

Cryptocurrencies and AI now sit at the core of this new power structure. Thiel’s long-term strategy to eliminate traditional Wall Street finance and build a new, tech-driven financial system is now coming to fruition.

Thiel’s Vision for the Future of Western Civilization

Thiel’s ultimate goal is not to maximize his own economic gains but to oppose what he perceives as the decline of Western civilization. His ideological foundation includes admiration for ancient Greek spirit and a philosophy of accelerationism (e/acc), which seeks to hasten technological development.

In other words, by thoroughly accelerating technological progress, humanity will reach a speed where it can no longer keep up with innovation, leading to a scenario where the ideal governance of “philosopher kings” in ancient Greek city-states is realized. AI, cryptocurrencies, colonization of Mars, life extension technologies—all are positioned as means to save Western civilization.

Contrasting Thiel with George Soros reveals the current state of U.S. political economy. Soros supports the Democratic Party and promotes globalization and an open society—what could be called the “liberal’s black hand.” Meanwhile, Thiel advances conservative ideology through technology and investment—an “underground conservative hand.” Though pursuing opposite goals, both wield equally powerful influence.

From 2024 to 2025, the U.S. political economy is at a historic turning point. Washington’s power structure is shifting from Wall Street to West Coast tech companies, and ideology is transitioning from leftist to neoconservative. Behind this change is a single ideological leader—Peter Thiel—who has executed a consistent strategy over 30 years.

What he has changed is not just the landscape of Silicon Valley but the entire political and economic direction of the U.S. and the Western world. Today, behind Elon Musk’s loud calls for a “technology revolution” is the quiet strategic influence of Peter Thiel.