A Billionaire’s Apocalyptic Concern

2025 has produced its fair share of strange headlines. Few rival Peter Thiel’s fixation on the Antichrist. The Palantir chairman and co-founder of PayPal has become increasingly vocal about his belief. He thinks artificial intelligence and other technologies could provide the very portal through which the Antichrist emerges.

For many Christians, the Antichrist is more feared than even Satan himself. Raised in a Protestant evangelical tradition, Thiel has long expressed unease about apocalyptic prophecy. His recent remarks, however, mark a shift from private conviction to public crusade.

A Fear Rooted in Technology

In a recent interview with The New York Times’ Ross Douthat, Thiel outlined his view that the Antichrist will arrive through AI, defense systems, and digital surveillance tools. “These technologies may open the door to a false god,” Thiel warned, calling AI in particular a new form of idol worship.

Yet this warning highlights a glaring paradox: Thiel is one of the very architects of these technologies.

Thiel’s Technological Empire

Thiel co-founded Palantir Technologies, named after the “seeing stones” from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. In Tolkien’s world, the palantir is an artifact of great power—capable of both insight and deception. In Thiel’s real-world version, Palantir provides data-analysis platforms used by intelligence agencies, the Pentagon, and major corporations.

Beyond Palantir, Thiel was the first outside investor in Facebook. He continues to influence Silicon Valley through massive venture capital investments. His portfolio includes companies like Scale AI and Anduril, both focused on artificial intelligence and defense technology.

Thiel’s investments consistently reflect his libertarian leanings: disruptive innovation over regulation, bold expansion over caution. And yet, they also represent the very digital infrastructure he now claims could usher in the Antichrist.

The Political Dimension

Thiel’s influence is not limited to technology. He has long been active in U.S. politics, most famously as one of Donald Trump’s earliest and strongest supporters during the 2016 election. He has steered millions into conservative Super PACs. Thiel remains a mentor to Vice President J.D. Vance, whom he supported with a $15 million investment in his political career.

This blending of faith, politics, and technology has placed Thiel at the center of debates about power and morality in the digital age.

The Christian Fear of the Antichrist

In Christian tradition, the Antichrist is a powerful figure who opposes Christ. He deceives nations with false miracles and establishes a one-world religion. For many believers, the prophecy evokes deep fear. This is particularly true among those raised in evangelical communities where sermons on the end times are common.

Thiel’s public embrace of these themes resonates with some Christians while baffling others. His warnings may reflect genuine conviction, savvy branding for his private lecture series on the Antichrist, or both.

The Central Contradiction

The most confounding aspect of Thiel’s apocalyptic vision is its paradox. If he truly believes AI and surveillance systems are tools of the Antichrist, why is he helping to build them?

Some argue this contradiction reveals hypocrisy. Others see it as an effort to dominate and control the very technologies he fears. Still others suspect it is part of Thiel’s broader effort to shape public perception of AI. He positions himself as both prophet and builder in the unfolding story of technological destiny.

Whatever the case, Peter Thiel has made himself inseparable from the debate over how faith, fear, and power intersect in Silicon Valley.

Editorial Disclaimer:

Presence News reports on political, cultural, and social issues from a variety of perspectives. References to the Bible and the Antichrist in this article are presented in the context of Peter Thiel’s statements and broader public discourse. Presence News does not claim or endorse the theological accuracy of these interpretations.

Sources

• Ross Douthat, The New York Times: Interview with Peter Thiel
• Palantir Technologies corporate history and filings
• Public reporting on Thiel’s investments in AI and defense (Scale AI, Anduril, Facebook)