[PATREON PREVIEW] What Is Peter Thiel Doing In Argentina? (and what's with his secret cult) w/ NYT's Ryan Mac

June 22, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Peter Thiel’s Argentine Pivot: Tax Escape, Ideological Alignment, and a New Plan B

Peter Thiel has spent the past several months in Buenos Aires—meeting with Argentina’s libertarian president Javier Milei, purchasing a mansion in one of the city’s most exclusive neighborhoods, hosting one of his infamous “anti-Christ” dinners, enrolling his children in local schools, and even placing third in a chess club tournament. For a man who built his reputation on seeing around corners—predicting Trump’s 2016 win, making early bets on Facebook—his sudden relocation has triggered speculation about what he knows that others don’t. But according to New York Times reporter Ryan Mac, who has been covering Thiel closely, the explanation is less about geopolitical prophecy and more about tax avoidance, ideological comfort, and personal lifestyle.

The California Tax Threat That Pushed Him Out

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What you'll learn

1 (02:05) **Peter Thiel's Argentina Move & The "Shadow President" Question** - Ryan Mac explains Thiel's extended stay in Buenos Aires and why people speculate about his movements.
2 (03:56) **The California Tax Trigger** - The primary domestic push for Thiel's relocation is a looming California billionaire tax.
3 (05:42) **Why Argentina? The Miley Connection** - Thiel's move is driven by ideological alignment with Argentina's new libertarian president, Javier Miley.
4 (07:46) **Life in Buenos Aires: Out and About** - Thiel is unusually social in Argentina, attending soccer games, chess clubs, and hosting dinners with officials.
5 (09:46) **Argentina as the New "Plan B" for Tech Elites** - Thiel's move signals a shift from New Zealand to Argentina as a potential escape plan for other tech billionaires.
6 (10:29) **Patreon & Newsletter Plug** - Host Taylor Lorenz asks for listener support via Patreon and her Substack newsletter, usermag.co.
7 Standout Quotes

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Show Notes

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Over the past few months, Peter Thiel has become fully infatuated with Argentina. He bought a house there, enrolled his kids in school, has been attending local soccer matches, playing chess with locals, and the Argentine government is exploring offering the billionaire permanent residence and citizenship.

But why Argentina? Why now? Ryan Mac is a reporter at the New York Times and he's been covering Peter Theil's increased fascination with the country. Today, he's joining me to unpack Thiel's new obsession, and why other billionaires also seem taken by Argentina lately.