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Thiel manufactures politicians from former employees with $30 million investment strategy
Thiel spends $30 million making employees into senators·August 15, 2024
Peter Thiel invested $15 million each in JD Vance's successful Ohio Senate campaign and Blake Masters' failed Arizona Senate bid in 2022, demonstrating how Silicon Valley billionaires manufacture politicians from their own employees. Both candidates worked directly for Thiel companies before he funded their campaigns through super PACs, bypassing traditional party structures to create custom-made politicians who share his libertarian and anti-democratic philosophy.
Key facts
Peter Thiel spent $15 million on J.D. Vance's 2022 Senate campaign through Protect Ohio Values super PAC
Thiel spent $15 million on Blake Masters' 2022 Arizona Senate campaign through Saving Arizona PAC
Thiel hired Vance at his venture capital firm Mithril Capital in 2017 before funding his political career
Blake Masters was chief operating officer of Thiel Capital and president of Thiel Foundation before running for Senate
Thiel brought Vance to his first meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in February 2021, according to New York Times
Vance called Thiel's Yale Law School talk 'the most significant moment' of his time there
Masters received Trump's endorsement in June 2022 but lost to incumbent Mark Kelly in November
Thiel steered at least $200,000 to Vance's super PAC through his controlled dark money group Per Aspera Policy
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