Key Takeaways
- • Jeffrey Epstein co-owned Valar Ventures, a venture capital fund controlled by Peter Thiel (Palantir co-founder), maintaining an active business relationship from 2014 until his 2019 arrest, according to newly released US Department of Justice files.
- • Epstein received "confidential" and "time-sensitive" investment opportunities as a Valar Ventures partner, with email exchanges documenting Thiel arranging repeated meetings with Epstein after the latter's prior conviction for child sex offences.
- • Palantir currently holds over £670 million in active UK government contracts spanning NHS patient data, Ministry of Defence operations, police intelligence databases, and nuclear weapons management systems.
- • Peter Mandelson, former UK Labour grandee and US ambassador, leaked sensitive UK secrets to Epstein between 2009–2010 and later engaged Palantir through his lobbying firm Global Counsel in 2018 to secure UK government contracts—occurring contemporaneously with Epstein's active role at Valar Ventures.
- • In February 2025, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Palantir's Washington DC headquarters alongside then-ambassador Mandelson with no documented record of discussions held.
Summary
Recently released Department of Justice files have exposed a sustained business relationship between Peter Thiel and Jeffrey Epstein spanning 2014 through 2019. According to the documents, Epstein served as co-owner of Valar Ventures, the venture capital fund controlled by Thiel, and received access to "confidential" and "time-sensitive" investment opportunities typically reserved for senior fund partners. Email exchanges detailed in the latest Epstein files reveal that Thiel repeatedly arranged meetings, scheduled meals, calls, and other linkups with Epstein—activities that continued after Epstein's prior conviction for child sex offences.
Valar Ventures operates as a fintech and financial services-focused venture capital platform with global investment reach. The timing and nature of the documented correspondence raises questions about due diligence and relationship management at a major venture capital vehicle during a period when Epstein was under significant legal scrutiny.
The disclosure carries implications for Palantir Technologies, which Thiel co-founded. Palantir currently maintains over £670 million in active UK government contracts, including access to NHS patient data, Ministry of Defence operational systems, police intelligence databases, and nuclear weapons management infrastructure. These contracts position Palantir as a critical technology partner for UK state operations.
Additional context emerges regarding Peter Mandelson, the former Labour grandee and UK ambassador to the United States. Justice files indicate Mandelson transmitted sensitive UK secrets to Epstein between 2009 and 2010. Subsequently, Mandelson's lobbying firm Global Counsel was engaged by Palantir in 2018 to facilitate UK government contract procurement—a period during which Epstein remained an active Valar Ventures partner receiving "super confidential" investment materials. In February 2025, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Palantir's Washington headquarters accompanied by Mandelson, with the embassy arranging the visit but no public disclosure of discussion topics.
Valar Ventures operates as a fintech and financial services-focused venture capital platform with global investment reach. The timing and nature of the documented correspondence raises questions about due diligence and relationship management at a major venture capital vehicle during a period when Epstein was under significant legal scrutiny.
The disclosure carries implications for Palantir Technologies, which Thiel co-founded. Palantir currently maintains over £670 million in active UK government contracts, including access to NHS patient data, Ministry of Defence operational systems, police intelligence databases, and nuclear weapons management infrastructure. These contracts position Palantir as a critical technology partner for UK state operations.
Additional context emerges regarding Peter Mandelson, the former Labour grandee and UK ambassador to the United States. Justice files indicate Mandelson transmitted sensitive UK secrets to Epstein between 2009 and 2010. Subsequently, Mandelson's lobbying firm Global Counsel was engaged by Palantir in 2018 to facilitate UK government contract procurement—a period during which Epstein remained an active Valar Ventures partner receiving "super confidential" investment materials. In February 2025, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Palantir's Washington headquarters accompanied by Mandelson, with the embassy arranging the visit but no public disclosure of discussion topics.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.