The Palantir Founders
From seismic innovations in data analytics to bold moves in startups and political influence, the original minds behind Palantir—Peter Thiel, Alex Karp, Stephen Cohen, Nathan Gettings, and Joe Lonsdale—have each charted distinct paths. Here's an updated look at what they’re doing today.
Alex Karp – The Philosopher-CEO Turned Strategist
Alex Karp remains the CEO of Palantir, steering the company through its most transformative era. Under his leadership, Palantir has become a profitable public company, producing a surge in stock performance and briefly placing Karp among the world's wealthiest individuals, with his net worth exceeding $12 billion in 2025.
Karp continues to be a vocal champion for a new era of national defense powered by AI. He has emphasized Palantir's role in strengthening the industrial capacity of the West and has also written about his philosophy in his book, The Technological Republic. While he has sold millions in stock to cover taxes on vested shares, he maintains significant operational control through his remaining equity and options.
Stephen Cohen – Quiet Power, Big Rewards
Stephen Cohen, the President and Secretary of Palantir, is a less public figure than Karp or Thiel but holds significant financial influence. As of mid-2025, he holds roughly 1.5% of company shares, making his net worth approximately $4.5 billion. He has recently executed a substantial stock sale, liquidating a portion of his holdings, but his remaining stake ensures his continued financial interest in the company’s success.
Peter Thiel – Investor & Ideological Architect
While not involved in Palantir's daily operations, Peter Thiel's strategic influence remains. Today, he is increasingly focused on defense and space tech ventures. Through his firm, Thiel Capital, he continues to back leading European drone and surveillance tech firms like Quantum Systems and Stark. His investments extend his contrarian vision beyond Palantir, expanding his influence into the global defense tech landscape.
Joe Lonsdale – Builder and Builder-of-Builders
Joe Lonsdale has built a career as a prolific entrepreneur and venture capitalist. His ventures are aimed at "fixing broken systems" across a range of industries. His notable co-founding roles include:
- Addepar (2009): A leading wealth management platform.
- OpenGov (2012): A government software company that was acquired by Cox Enterprises in 2024.
He now leads 8VC, a venture capital firm with over $6 billion in capital, which invests in and incubates a diverse portfolio of startups in sectors like defense, logistics, and AI. Lonsdale also co-founded the Cicero Institute, a think tank focused on public policy, and the University of Austin (UATX), reflecting his belief in the power of entrepreneurship and policy reform.
Nathan Gettings – The Silent Engineer
Nathan Gettings is the least public of the Palantir founders. As an early PayPal alum, he was a key figure in building the core data and product architecture of Palantir in its early days. He left the company in 2009. While his current professional and investment activities are not widely publicized, his legacy as a foundational engineer for one of the world's most valuable software companies is secure.
