Silicon Valley strategist Peter Thiel's 15-year plan—Building a Western technology empire and political transformation

In early autumn 2025, a remarkable scene unfolded at a technology conference held at the White House. While major Silicon Valley executives gathered around a round table, Peter Thiel was absent. However, everyone present was deeply connected to him. The CEO of Figma is a supporter of the Thiel Scholarship, and Scale AI is a unicorn company nurtured by the Founders Fund under Thiel’s umbrella. Former PayPal co-founder David Sacks is the White House’s crypto assets minister. Mark Zuckerberg of Meta is Thiel’s first major investment discovery in Silicon Valley. Palantir is a key contractor for the Trump administration. This scene symbolizes how deeply Peter Thiel, as an investor and thinker, has intertwined American technology and politics.

Silicon Valley’s Right-Wing Strategist—The Roots of Thiel’s Embedded Ideology

Peter Thiel, who amassed great wealth as a co-founder of PayPal, is not merely a businessman but an ideological strategist. His intellectual backbone is rooted in neoconservatism and libertarianism, heavily influenced by philosophers René Girard and Leo Strauss. Thiel envisions a long-term plan to eliminate regulatory barriers through technological innovation and to revive Western civilization.

In 1987, then a student at Stanford University, Thiel founded the Stanford Review. This media outlet was not just a campus magazine but served as a right-wing ideological fortress against the left-leaning Silicon Valley and academia. Through this publication, he built a key network, laying the groundwork for what would later be called the “PayPal Mafia.” Notably, in 1992, Thiel and David Sacks co-authored “The Myth of Diversity,” asserting that ideology takes precedence over products and money. From these early activities, Thiel’s vision was clear—to integrate technology and politics and to build a new power structure to defend Western civilization.

Thiel’s influence extends beyond his Stanford days. Over the years, he has cultivated and maintained major supporters. The Thiel Scholarship, established in 2010, supports college dropouts while functioning as a mechanism to discover and train future tech leaders. Among its supporters are Figma CEO Dylan Field and Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin.

Merging Investment and Ideology—From PayPal to Founders Fund

In 1996, Thiel established Thiel Capital Management, raising about $1 million from family and friends. Shortly after, in 1998, a digital payment company called Confinity was born. Collaborating with Max Levchin, Thiel saw the potential of digital currency. At that time, internet dollars were still in early commercialization, and credit cards dominated cashless payments. However, Thiel recognized the potential for new financial infrastructure through regulatory arbitrage, especially targeting cross-border payments needed by the gambling industry, leading to the official launch of PayPal in 1999.

PayPal symbolized the freedom of remittance for Americans and became a means for people worldwide to hedge against inflation. After its IPO in 2002 and subsequent acquisition by eBay for $1.5 billion, Thiel’s net worth reached $55 million. At just 35 years old, Thiel gained financial freedom and intensified his investment activities.

His subsequent investment strategy was not merely profit-driven but tied to ideological objectives. In 2003, he founded Palantir, developing big data-based counter-terrorism systems. Its main clients are the CIA and security agencies, anchoring Thiel deeply in the government security industry. In 2004, he invested $500,000 in Facebook, acquiring a 10.2% stake. This was not just a commercial decision but based on confidence that technology would become the infrastructure of the world.

In 2005, he established Founders Fund. Its investment philosophy became Thiel’s ideological foundation. The fund’s goal is not just “making money” but creating hard technologies like AI and cryptocurrencies that contribute to the evolution of human civilization. Thiel has repeatedly criticized superficial Silicon Valley innovation, stating, “People wanted flying cars, but they got 140 characters.”

Technology Power Penetration into Washington Politics

Thiel’s political involvement intensified during the 2016 presidential election. While most of Silicon Valley, aligned with the Democratic Party, was overwhelmingly supportive of Hillary Clinton, Thiel invested in Donald Trump. This decision was not just a political gamble but the implementation phase of a 15-year-long plan. Notably, even after Trump’s defeat in 2020, Thiel’s support and investments remained unwavering, continuing into the 2024 presidential race.

An even more strategic move was the nurturing and support of JD Vance. Vance, a politician Thiel has maintained connections with for years, became Vice President under the Trump administration in January 2025. This signifies the direct infiltration of Silicon Valley’s tech forces into the core of Washington power.

Thiel’s network strategy fundamentally changed the dynamics between the East and West Coasts. Traditionally, the West Coast was dominated by tech elites, while Wall Street and the financial-political complex controlled the East Coast. As businesses grew, executives had to participate in Washington’s political game. However, Thiel promoted the integration of technology and finance. As the power of cryptocurrencies and AI increases, the traditional financial elites of Wall Street are gradually marginalized, with right-wing tech companies beginning to dominate U.S. and global politics and economics.

Ancient Greek Ideals and Modern Accelerationism—The Deep Layers of Thiel’s Philosophy

At the core of Thiel’s ideological thinking lies an idealization of ancient Greece. Influenced by Leo Strauss, Thiel believes that governance by a “philosopher-king” is the most ideal form of government, and the city-state model exemplifies the essence of Western civilization. Thiel seeks to combine this ancient ideal with modern technology. He believes that removing regulatory barriers through technological innovation is essential for Western revival, and accelerating this process will lead humanity toward a state reminiscent of ancient Greece.

Girard’s theory that “desire arises from imitation of others” underpins Thiel’s investment strategy. His support for technological leaders is not merely for profit but aims at the grand goal of preserving Western civilization, expanding networks, and fostering innovation. As a gay man, Thiel has sought civil rights and legal rights, but his ultimate goal is to recreate the city-state model of the “philosopher-king” of ancient Greece in the modern era.

Accelerationism (e/acc) has become a tool to realize Thiel’s long-term vision. By maximizing technological progress and breaking down regulations and traditional institutions, he aims to restore Western civilization. This strategy aligns with Elon Musk’s “long-termism”—not just immediate gains but a desperate acceleration toward humanity’s future.

Conclusion: The Architect of the Western Technology Empire

From founding the Stanford Review to the Trump administration’s resurgence, Thiel has embedded neo-conservative ideas into Silicon Valley and simultaneously inserted a dual insurance mechanism—Vance and Trump—into Washington’s political core. This is not merely political investment but a profound shift in American politics, where tech elites replace traditional Wall Street elites.

Thiel’s influence extends beyond personal wealth. He has organized practitioners in cryptocurrencies, fintech, and AI into a network, and as of 2026, these forces are steadily infiltrating U.S. political and economic spheres. Thiel’s long-standing claim that “Western revival” is no longer an ideal but a tangible political change is beginning to materialize. His 15-year-long strategic campaign has sent Silicon Valley’s tech forces into Washington’s power centers, ushering in a transition from financial capitalism to technological capitalism.

The essence of this shift lies in a structural transformation of state power. Replacing the old financial order, the integration of technology and ideology is shaping a new world order. The presence of a strategist like Peter Thiel symbolizes how significant this epochal turning point is.