The most famous name amongst Silicon Valley power couples strikes one name in our minds: Peter Thiel and Matt Danzeisen. Peter Thiel, a megamind behind tech and finance, is the co-founder of PayPal and an early investor to Facebook. While one of them is constantly in the spotlight, the other prefers to be by his husband but away from the spotlight. Then, who is Matt Danzeisen?
Keep reading this article where we take a closer look at Matt Danzeisen’s life, career, and marriage to Peter Thiel.
Quick Summary: Matt Danzeisen at a Glance
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Matt Danzeisen |
| Birthplace | Washington, D.C., USA |
| Birth Year | Estimated between 1969–1973 |
| Ethnicity/Religion | White / Christian |
| Profession | Finance professional, Portfolio Manager at Thiel Capital |
| Past Roles | BlackRock (Portfolio Manager), Bank of America Securities (Investment Banker) |
| Net Worth | Estimated in the tens of millions |
| Spouse | Peter Thiel (Married October 11, 2017 in Vienna, Austria) |
| Known For | Successful finance career and marriage to billionaire investor Peter Thiel |
| Personality | Private, down-to-earth, philanthropic |
Who is Matt Danzeisen?
Far before he was married to Peter Thiel, Matt led an even more private life than he does today. Barely anything is known about his early life. He was born in the United States, presumably in Washington D.C., somewhere between 1969 to 1973. He grew up in a white family that was Christian. His father was a businessman, and his mother a homemaker.
Little is known about his education and personal life early on, which is a small part of the intrigue surrounding him. However, we know that he was clearly interested in finance and the markets from an early age, to the point that it dictated the rest of his career!
Matt Danzeisen’s Career in Finance
Matt Danzeisen built his finance career all on his own. Before joining in the Thiel Business, he worked at Wimsatt Building Materials in sales, before getting his big break in finance.
His professional climb looks like this:
- Bank of America Securities – He was an investment banker honing his skills in financial planning and global markets.
- BlackRock – One of the most significant investment management firms in the world, he refined his expertise in asset management and investment strategy here as a Portfolio Manager.
- Thiel Capital – Today, Matt is a portfolio manager and finance leader at Thiel Capital, the investment firm owned by his husband. Here, he plays a key role in overseeing investments, guiding financial strategies, and supporting innovation in fintech.
Beyond his core roles, Matt has also served on boards in the FinTech sector, proving that his financial influence extends far beyond his connection to Thiel.
Love and Marriage: Matt Danzeisen and Peter Thiel
Matt and Peter Thiel kept their relationship largely under wraps until October 11, 2017 when the couple had a surprise wedding in Vienna, Austria, which coincided with Peter’s 50th birthday party. A number of guests were shocked, but delighted, by the news of the wedding to a man who had kept this relationship relatively private.
The union of the couple had reportedly been several years in the making before they decided to make things official. This wedding is regarded as one of the most high-profile same-sex weddings in Silicon Valley and has been cited as a cultural event.
Unlike other celebrity couples, Matt and Peter have kept their relationship very low profile, often not attending the same public events, and shunned all publicity in favor of a private life free of the rhythm of tech media and other distractions. With that intention made clear by the couple, their relationship has often been characterized as a perfect balance of personalities; Peter enjoys the limelight, while Matt offers stability from the sidelines.
Peter Thiel’s Career and Investments
To get a better sense of Matt’s world, it may help to look into the remarkable career of his husband.
Peter Thiel was born in Germany in 1967 and immigrated to the U.S. with his family. He graduated from Stanford with degrees in Philosophy and Law.
Peter Thiel’s career highlights:
- PayPal – Co-founder and eventually CEO following a falling out with Elon Musk in 2000.
- Clarium Capital & Valar Ventures – Simply the founding investment firms that focus on future-forward businesses.
- Facebook – First outside investor, turning $500,000 into billions.
- Founders Fund – Current venture capital firm. Invests in tech start-up companies with transformational impacts.
As of today, Peter Thiel has an estimated net worth of $4.8 billion.
Matt Danzeisen’s Net Worth
Peter is often dominating the business headlines, but that does not mean Matt is any further behind. With his long-term stay in the role of finance, along with his contribution to Thiel Capital, Matt’s net worth is estimated to be around $10 million or more. His portfolio includes his salary, bonuses, and the strategic investments in startups and technology ventures.
Matt is known for his cautious and calculated approach when it comes to money and investing. Thus, he prefers to choose long-term benefits over short-term risks.
Life Beyond Business
A successful career has not made Matt chase the spotlight. In fact, all his friends describe him as a down-to-earth and extremely thoughtful guy. He rarely gives out interviews or makes public appearances, but is known for making philanthropic efforts and being involved in charitable functions.
Unlike his partner, Peter Thiel, who is outspoken about his political and business opinions, Matt chooses to be subdued, preferring action over words. This balance between both of them is also what makes them the IT couple and great for each other.
Matt Danzeisen in the Media
Matt avoids the media, but the media is fascinated with him. His name is often featured in print and media tied to PayPal, Peter Thiel. Apart from this, he is also adored for being a face of LGBTQ+ representation, especially for someone in Silicon Valley. A reputed financial hustler who is married to one of the biggest finance tycoons of the world – that is the image media paints of him.
Conclusion
While Peter Thiel might always be the one that “everyone knows,” Matt Danzeisen is much more than “the billionaire’s husband.” Matt has a prolific career in finance, knows the markets well, and has a combination of public visibility and private impact. He demonstrates that you can be successful without being front and center in the spotlight. His partnership with Thiel is about balance, merging the visible with the secret, the business with personal values.
In a world defined by Silicon Valley and its loud traders and screens, its safe to say that Matt Danzeisen is the silent and mighty force behind it all.