Peter Thiel, a well-known US technology billionaire, PayPal co-founder and investor, has moved to Argentina and started building a new life in the country. According to The New York Times, Thiel has been buying a mansion in Buenos Aires for the past two months, meeting with President Javier Teja and members of the government, and holding discussions with local economists and intellectuals.
According to sources, Thiel is considering Argentina as an alternative place to live to the United States. Concerns about the future of the United States, especially additional tax initiatives for billionaires in California, are said to have played a significant role in his decision. The investor is also known for his long-term concerns about global risks such as nuclear war and uncontrolled artificial intelligence.
Peter Thiel's interest in Argentina is not only related to security factors. He supports President Javier Teja's libertarian economic policies and highly appreciates the large-scale reforms he has implemented. The parties first met in 2024, and their relations have since grown closer.
The 58-year-old billionaire has reportedly moved temporarily to Buenos Aires with his family and placed his children in a local school. Although the Argentine government is reportedly considering granting him permanent residency or citizenship, Buenos Aires officials have not confirmed this.
While living in Argentina, Thiel has watched the famous River Plate–Boca Juniors football match, visited the city of Bariloche in the Patagonian region, and even took third place in a chess tournament held in Buenos Aires.
The billionaire's move to Argentina has sparked mixed reactions in the country. Government supporters see it as an indicator of the growing interest of foreign investors in the country. Opposition politicians see this process as the country's further opening up to the influence of big capital.
It should be noted that Peter Thiel previously obtained New Zealand citizenship in 2011 and applied for a Maltese passport in 2022. In addition, he is reported to have purchased land in neighboring Uruguay. Some observers interpret these investments as the billionaire preparing a "Plan B" for possible global crises.
