Sep 15, 2024 · political
Peter Thiel Evolves from Libertarian Outsider to GOP Kingmaker
Between 2022 and 2024, billionaire venture capitalist Peter Thiel consolidated his role as the most influential unelected power broker in Republican politics. After seeding JD Vance's Senate campaign with $15 million and backing Blake Masters in Arizona, Thiel's network of tech-aligned candidates and Silicon Valley donors transformed the GOP's donor base — pulling it away from traditional corporate interests toward a techno-nationalist coalition hostile to regulatory democracy.
May 24, 2022 · election
Thiel Adds $3.5 Million to Saving Arizona PAC for Blake Masters
Peter Thiel made an additional $3.5 million contribution to Saving Arizona PAC on May 24, 2022, on top of his earlier $10 million seed, to support Blake Masters in the Arizona Republican Senate primary. Masters had served as chief operating officer of Thiel Capital and president of the Thiel Foundation before running for office. Masters won the primary but lost the general election to incumbent Mark Kelly.
May 3, 2022 · election
Thiel Donates $15M to JD Vance Senate Race, Manufacturing a U.S. Senator
Peter Thiel donated $15 million to Protect Ohio Values PAC supporting JD Vance's 2022 Ohio Senate campaign — the largest known donation from a single individual to a Senate race at that time. Vance had worked for Thiel at Mithril Capital venture fund, and Thiel personally introduced Vance to Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in 2021 after Vance had been a Trump critic. Vance won the Republican primary in May 2022 and the general election in November 2022. By 2024, Thiel's creation — Vance — was selected as Trump's vice presidential running mate, entering the White House as the first sitting VP with direct employment ties to a specific tech billionaire donor.
Jun 1, 2019 · policy_change
Vance and Buskirk Launch Rockbridge Network for Conservative Donors
JD Vance and Chris Buskirk founded the Rockbridge Network in 2019 to pool tech and finance donor money outside formal party committees. Membership was set at $100,000 to $1 million per year and the network housed five political groups plus a super PAC. Early backers included Peter Thiel, Rebekah Mercer, Blake Masters, and Omeed Malik.
