Meta Platforms(US:META) 财富FORTUNE·2025-07-07 11:15Core Viewpoint - Peter Thiel's early investment in Facebook was a significant success, but his decision to sell shares shortly after the IPO may lead to regret as the value of those shares has dramatically increased since then [2][3]. Investment Decision - Thiel invested $500,000 for a 10% stake in Facebook when the company's valuation was approximately $4.9 million [2]. - He sold about 20.1 million shares at prices ranging from $19.27 to $20.69 per share, cashing out around $400 million [2]. Current Value of Shares - If Thiel had retained his shares until now, their value would be approximately $14.76 billion, given that Meta's stock price is $736 [3]. Market Perception - Thiel believed that the university market, which was Facebook's initial audience, was significantly undervalued [4]. - He noted that investors often prefer to invest in products they use, leading to a general underestimation of products outside their personal experience [5]. Ongoing Involvement - Despite selling most of his shares, Thiel remained actively involved with Facebook until he left the board in 2022 [8]. Wealth Impact - Thiel's net worth is currently around $21.7 billion, partly due to his success with PayPal and Palantir [9]. - Facebook's growth has created numerous millionaires and billionaires, with Mark Zuckerberg being the most notable beneficiary, currently valued at $260 billion [10]. Comparison with Other Investors - Thiel's situation is contrasted with Ronald Wayne, who sold his 10% stake in Apple for $800 shortly after its founding, which would now be worth between $75 billion and $300 billion [11][12].