Peter Thiel and Tom Hayes represent two very different sides of the financial and technology world. Thiel built his reputation through PayPal, Palantir, Facebook and venture capital, becoming one of Silicon Valley’s best-known investors. Hayes, meanwhile, rose through the banking industry as a highly successful derivatives trader before becoming associated with the LIBOR case. Their careers, wealth and public profiles are remarkably different, making this comparison an interesting look at two very different paths through modern finance.
| Category | Peter Thiel | Tom Hayes |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Peter Andreas Thiel | Thomas Alexander William Hayes |
| Date of Birth | October 11, 1967 | October 1979 |
| Net Worth | Approximately $33.2 billion according to Forbes’ August 29, 2026 real-time estimate | approximately $5 million–$10 million |
| Height | About 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), commonly reported estimate | Not reliably documented |
| Age | 58 years | 46 years |
| Birth Place | Frankfurt, West Germany | West London, United Kingdom |
| Nickname | Peter | Tom; “Tommy Chocolate” |
| Nationality | American; born in Germany | British |
| Parents | Klaus Thiel and Susanne Thiel | Nicholas and Sandra Hayes |
| Siblings | Patrick Michael Thiel | Robin Hayes |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, investor, venture capitalist and author | Former derivatives trader and financial professional |
| Famous For | Co-founding PayPal and Palantir and being Facebook’s first outside investor | UBS and Citigroup trading career and his connection to the LIBOR case |
| Education | Stanford University — philosophy; Stanford Law School — J.D. | University of Nottingham; Hult International Business School |
| Marital Status | Married | Divorced |
| Spouse | Matt Danzeisen | Sarah Tighe, former wife |
| Children | 1 listed by Forbes | Two reported in recent coverage |
| Weight | Not reliably documented | Not reliably documented |
| Hair Color | Brown / dark brown | Not reliably documented |
| Eye Color | Not reliably documented | Not reliably documented |
| No widely verified personal official Instagram account | No widely verified personal official Instagram account | |
| Major Company | Palantir Technologies | Previously UBS and Citigroup |
| PayPal Connection | Co-founder, former CEO, president and chairman | None |
| Palantir Connection | Co-founder and chairman | None |
| Facebook Connection | First outside investor | None |
| Investment Firm | Founders Fund | No major current public investment firm |
| Trading Background | Worked as a derivatives trader at Credit Suisse early in his career | Specialized in interest-rate derivatives trading |
| Major Career Achievement | Built a major technology-investment career around PayPal, Palantir and venture capital | Became a highly successful yen-rates trader at UBS |
| UBS Connection | None | Former trader |
| Citigroup Connection | None | Former trader |
| LIBOR Connection | None | Central figure in the LIBOR case |
| Legal Status | No comparable criminal conviction relevant to this profile | 2015 conviction overturned by the UK Supreme Court in 2025 |
| Major Book | Zero to One | No major published business book |
| Hobbies / Interests | Technology, investing, philosophy and innovation | Financial markets, mathematics and trading |
| Source of Wealth | Technology investments, Palantir, Facebook investment and venture capital | Former trading income and investments; current wealth not reliably documented |
| Current Role | Palantir chairman and Founders Fund partner | Former trader; focused on rebuilding his professional life |
| Career Focus | Technology, venture capital and entrepreneurship | Financial markets and derivatives trading |
| Overall Legacy | A major Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor | A prominent former derivatives trader whose career became linked to the LIBOR case |
Peter Thiel and Tom Hayes Images
