Thiel and Epstein’s Yearslong Connection
Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender, played a significant role in connecting Silicon Valley venture capitalist Peter Thiel with former Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak. Epstein actively facilitated meetings between the two men, driven by their shared interest in leveraging technology for national security. This connection ultimately led to Thiel’s firm, Palantir, partnering with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, supplying AI tools used in military operations, and Thiel personally expressing support for Israel’s actions. Furthermore, Epstein helped secure financing for Barak’s cybersecurity ventures, including Guardicore and Reporty (later Carbyne), with Founders Fund, Thiel’s firm, becoming a key investor.