Why has tech founder Peter Thiel sold $1B of his firm's stock?

Why has tech founder Peter Thiel sold $1B of his firm's stock?
Palantir stock has more than doubled this year.
SEP 27, 2024
By 

Peter Thiel sold almost $600 million of Palantir Technologies Inc. stock this week, bringing his total disposals this year to more than $1 billion.

He sold more than 16 million shares over three days this week, according to a regulatory filing, adding to the 20 million shares he sold in March and May. 

Palantir in December disclosed that entities owned by Thiel had adopted the kind of trading plan that public-company executives commonly use to schedule sales. The billionaire planned to sell as many as 20 million shares. In May, the entity adopted a second trading plan encompassing as many as 28.6 million shares, a filing shows.

Filings didn’t disclose why Thiel sold the stock or what he plans to do with the money. He didn’t respond to a request for comment. The 56-year-old co-founded Palantir and has a $12.4 billion fortune, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Thiel only sold common equity, not units from the share classes with special voting rights that give him and co-founders Alex Karp and Stephen Cohen control of the board.

Palantir this week was added to the S&P 500. Its shares have more than doubled so far this year.

 

Latest News

RIA giant Mercer matches 2024 deal count, lays groundwork for Idaho expansion
RIA giant Mercer matches 2024 deal count, lays groundwork for Idaho expansion

Oregon-based Eagle Wealth Management and Idaho-based West Oak Capital give Mercer 11 acquisitions in 2025, matching last year's total. “We think there's a great opportunity in the Pacific Northwest,” Mercer's Martine Lellis told InvestmentNews.

Osaic ponies up $9.8M to settle clients’ lawsuit involving real estate, alternatives
Osaic ponies up $9.8M to settle clients’ lawsuit involving real estate, alternatives

Osaic has now paid $17.2 million to settle claims involving former clients of Jim Walesa.

RIA moves: CW Advisors scores a double in Pennsylvania, Apella Wealth makes Chicago debut
RIA moves: CW Advisors scores a double in Pennsylvania, Apella Wealth makes Chicago debut

Osaic-owned CW Advisors has added more than $500 million to reach $14.5 billion in AUM, while Apella's latest deal brings more than $1 billion in new client assets.

$2.5B Validus Capital partners with Merchant to chase multi-family office ambitions
$2.5B Validus Capital partners with Merchant to chase multi-family office ambitions

The up-and-coming Los Angeles-based RIA is looking to tap Merchant's resources to strengthen its alts distribution, advisor recruitment, and family office services.

Corient announces double alliance to form world-leading $430B UHNW wealth platform
Corient announces double alliance to form world-leading $430B UHNW wealth platform

US wealth advisory business will get international footprint boost with new tie-ups.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.