Peter Thiel’s Firm Received $40 Million Investment from Jeffrey Epstein
A recent report has revealed that tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s venture capital firm, Valar Ventures, received a substantial investment of $40 million from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2015 and 2016. According to a report by The New York Times, the investment has since grown in value to nearly $170 million.
The investment was made through Valar Ventures, a firm co-founded by Thiel, which is named after a creature from J.R.R. Tolkien’s mythos. The firm has reportedly benefited from the investment, with Epstein’s estate set to profit from the venture. As Gizmodo previously reported, Epstein was attempting to rehabilitate his image in the years leading up to his death in 2019, and was known to invest in technology and science projects.
The ties between Thiel and Epstein have been the subject of scrutiny in recent years, with many questioning the extent of their relationship. Thiel has publicly discussed Epstein, often in the context of conspiracy theories and culture wars. However, the revelation of Epstein’s significant investment in Thiel’s firm raises questions about the nature of their relationship. According to Gizmodo, Epstein’s ties to Thiel were previously reported in 2023.
Epstein’s connections to other prominent figures in the tech industry have also been the subject of controversy. Gizmodo previously reported that Epstein had relationships with other notable tech figures, including Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergei Brin, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, and Microsoft CEO Bill Gates. In 2023, Elon Musk was subpoenaed as part of a legal case involving Epstein.
The New York Times report on the investment highlights the complex web of relationships between Epstein and prominent figures in the tech industry. As The New York Times noted, Epstein’s estate is set to benefit from the investment, which has grown significantly in value since the initial $40 million investment.
In response to the report, Gizmodo reached out to Valar Ventures and Thiel’s company, Palantir, for comment. However, no response was received at the time of writing. The revelation of Epstein’s investment in Thiel’s firm is likely to raise further questions about the nature of their relationship and the extent of Epstein’s influence in the tech industry.
The news highlights that billionaire Jeffrey Epstein had significant financial ties with Peter Thiel.
