• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

'Skills nobody can take': Meet a 20-year-old with a 4.5 GPA who skipped college for technical school to land an 'AI-proof' career

2

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

3

China suffers another setback in effort to de-dollarize global finance as anchor in the greenback's dominance quietly exits Beijing's payment scheme

1

'Skills nobody can take': Meet a 20-year-old with a 4.5 GPA who skipped college for technical school to land an 'AI-proof' career

2

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

3

China suffers another setback in effort to de-dollarize global finance as anchor in the greenback's dominance quietly exits Beijing's payment scheme
Leadership‪Peter Thiel‬

Silicon Valley’s Heyday Is Over, Billionaire Investor Peter Thiel Says

By
Natasha Bach
Natasha Bach
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Natasha Bach
Natasha Bach
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 2, 2018, 9:57 AM ET
Google source logo
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel thinks Silicon Valley’s leadership in innovation in tech could be nearing an end.

Speaking at the New York Times DealBook conference on Thursday, Thiel suggested that Silicon Valley has become too insular and subject to groupthink to be capable of “breakthrough innovation.”

“There’s a sense that the network effects that made Silicon Valley good have gone haywire,” he said. “It’s not the wisdom of crowds, it’s the madness of crowds.”

Thiel added that he believes that Silicon Valley is “like a one-party state,” noting that it “feels like it has somehow jumped the shark.”

But it’s not just Silicon Valley itself that’s the problem. Thiel says that consumer internet innovation itself might be slowing down. After serving as the “big area in tech for 25 years” and dominating all the others, Thiel suggested that “perhaps there aren’t as many big breakthroughs left in consumer internet” as “the big ideas have been tried.”

For his part, Thiel appears to be putting his money on biotech, blockchain, cryptocurrency, cannabis, and data analytics.

The billionaire investor has already closed up shop in Silicon Valley as well, moving his home and offices to Los Angeles earlier this year. In September, he moved his venture firm Mithril Capital to Austin, Texas.

Ultimately, Thiel doesn’t see as much promise in Silicon Valley anymore. “On a relative basis,” he explained, “I believe we should be investing more outside Silicon Valley than inside Silicon Valley.”

About the Author
By Natasha Bach
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Leadership


Most Popular

Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

    Latest in Leadership


    Most Popular

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.