PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel is reportedly considering running for governor of California in 2018.
The Silicon Valley billionaire has been discussing his potential bid with advisers, including political consultant Rob Morrow. While people who have spoken with Thiel are doubtful about whether he’ll actually run, he still has yet to officially announce the status of his bid.
According to a report from Politico, Thiel, a notoriously private person, has recently made a surprising move: He's accepting an interview with New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, in which he detailed his political views and his support for Donald Trump. The report also states that Thiel’s estimated $2.7 billion worth would allow him to self-fund a campaign, an advantageous factor given a gubernatorial bid in California could cost more than $100 million.
Although many see Thiel as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist, he has been active in the political world in the past. Public findings show he has contributed more than $8.5 million to federal candidates since 2000 and spoken frequently with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. If he decides to run, he'd likely be up against environmentalist and fellow billionaire Tom Steyer, as well as several high-profile Democrats, including former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Treasurer John Chiang, who have already launched campaigns.
Thiel and his representatives did not reply to Politico’s requests for comment.
