Joe Lonsdale
Co-founded Palantir at 21 through the Stanford Review and PayPal network around Thiel.
Joe Lonsdale was born in 1982 in Fremont, California, US. Joe Lonsdale's background is described as Irish Catholic father; raised Jewish by his mother. Growing up, the family was middle class — middle-class household in Fremont, California; grew up with two brothers. Co-founded Palantir at 21 through the Stanford Review and PayPal network around Thiel.
- Born
- 1982 · Fremont, California, US
- Roots
- Irish Catholic father; raised Jewish by his mother
- Family
- Middle class
- Middle-class household in Fremont, California; grew up with two brothers.
- Education
- Stanford University (computer science)
- Started with
- A student paper
- Editing The Stanford Review led to the PayPal internship and the network around Peter Thiel.
- Affiliations & societies
- None documented.
- Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.
The pathway
- 2000 · age 18Stanford
Edits The Stanford Review, the paper Thiel founded.
- 2002 · age 20PayPal internship
Works at the company while still a student.
- 2003 · age 21Clarium Capital
Joins Thiel's macro hedge fund after graduating.
- 2004 · age 21Co-founds Palantir
With Thiel, Karp, Stephen Cohen, and Nathan Gettings.
- 2009 · age 27Leaves Palantir, founds Addepar
A wealth-management software company.
- 2011 · age 29Venture capital
Co-founds Formation 8, later 8VC.
- 2021 · age 39Co-founds University of Austin
A private university startup.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Joe Lonsdale from?
Joe Lonsdale was born in 1982 in Fremont, California, US. Their background is described as Irish Catholic father; raised Jewish by his mother.
When was Joe Lonsdale born?
Joe Lonsdale was born in 1982, in Fremont, California, US.
What is Joe Lonsdale's background or ethnicity?
Joe Lonsdale's roots are described as Irish Catholic father; raised Jewish by his mother. These are broad categories drawn from public sources, not statements about how the person identifies.
Where did Joe Lonsdale go to school?
Joe Lonsdale's education: Stanford University (computer science).
What was Joe Lonsdale's family background growing up?
At birth the family was middle class. Middle-class household in Fremont, California; grew up with two brothers.
How did Joe Lonsdale get started?
Joe Lonsdale started with a student paper. Editing The Stanford Review led to the PayPal internship and the network around Peter Thiel.
Sources
Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.