Peter Thiel is a renowned entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author. He co-founded PayPal in 1998, which was sold to eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002. Thiel was the first outside investor in Facebook, purchasing a 10% stake for $500,000 in 2004. He has since founded and invested in numerous successful tech companies, including Palantir Technologies and Founders Fund. Thiel's book "Zero to One" distills his philosophy on startups and innovation, drawing from his Stanford University lectures. A contrarian thinker, Thiel challenges conventional wisdom in business and technology. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Stanford University and a J.D. from Stanford Law School. Thiel currently resides in Los Angeles, where he continues to shape the future of technology and entrepreneurship.