Chamath Palihapitiya

Born in Sri Lanka to a family from Galle, Palihapitiya moved to Canada at age five when his father was posted to the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Ottawa.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Allen |date=8 July 2020 |title=10 Things You Didn't Know about Chamath Palihapitiya |url=https://moneyinc.com/chamath-palihapitiya/ |access-date=16 September 2021 |website=Money Inc |language=en-US |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307231035/https://moneyinc.com/chamath-palihapitiya/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/thestar/name/gamage-palihapitiya-obituary?pid=173016365 | title=GAMAGE PALIHAPITIYA Obituary (2014) - Toronto Star | website=Legacy.com | access-date=15 November 2022 | archive-date=7 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307231040/https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/thestar/name/gamage-palihapitiya-obituary?pid=173016365 | url-status=live }} In 1986, when his father's diplomatic posting came to an end, the family sought asylum in Canada due to his father's criticism of violence against Tamils during the Sri Lankan Civil War.{{Cite news |last=Passariello |first=Christina |date=April 22, 2016 |title=Meet the Venture Capitalist Whom Venture Capitalists Love to Hate |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/meet-the-venture-capitalist-whom-venture-capitalists-love-to-hate-1461342860 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160422183509/http://www.wsj.com/articles/meet-the-venture-capitalist-whom-venture-capitalists-love-to-hate-1461342860 |archive-date=April 22, 2016 |access-date=October 8, 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}

Growing up in difficult economic circumstances, Palihapitiya's father struggled with alcoholism and unemployment while his mother worked housekeeping jobs.{{Cite web |date=19 January 2021 |title=How Did Chamath Palihapitiya Make His Money? |url=https://financhill.com/blog/investing/how-did-chamath-palihapitiya-make-his-money |access-date=23 September 2021 |website=Financhill |language=en-US |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307231052/https://financhill.com/blog/investing/how-did-chamath-palihapitiya-make-his-money |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Duhigg |first=Charles |date=2021-05-31 |title=The Pied Piper of SPACs |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/06/07/the-pied-piper-of-spacs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210531145958/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/06/07/the-pied-piper-of-spacs |archive-date=2021-05-31 |access-date=2024-10-07 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}} At age 14, Palihapitiya began working at Burger King to support his family.{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Drake |date=27 July 2012 |title=Social+Capital, the League of Extraordinarily Rich Gentlemen |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-07-26/social-plus-capital-the-league-of-extraordinarily-rich-gentlemen |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407084352/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-07-26/social-plus-capital-the-league-of-extraordinarily-rich-gentlemen |archive-date=7 April 2021 |access-date=15 May 2021 |website=Bloomberg News}} He attended Lisgar Collegiate Institute and later graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1999 with a degree in electrical engineering.{{Cite news |last=Bryant |first=Adam |date=20 October 2017 |title=Chamath Palihapitiya of Social Capital on the Paradox of Ego and Humility |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/20/business/corner-office-chamath-palihapitiya-social-capital.html |url-status=live |access-date=22 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020142102/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/20/business/corner-office-chamath-palihapitiya-social-capital.html |archive-date=20 October 2017}}{{Cite web |title=Lisgar Collegiate graduates to celebrate venerable building |date=5 May 2018 |url=https://heritageottawa.org/news/lisgar-collegiate-graduates-celebrate-venerable-building |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523174345/https://heritageottawa.org/news/lisgar-collegiate-graduates-celebrate-venerable-building |archive-date=23 May 2018 |access-date=22 May 2018 |publisher=Heritage Ottawa}}

After graduation, Palihapitiya worked as a derivatives trader at BMO Nesbitt Burns before joining Winamp in California.{{Cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/07/winamp-how-greatest-mp3-player-undid-itself/ |title=Winamp's woes: How the greatest MP3 player undid itself |first=Cyrus |last=Farivar |date=July 3, 2017 |website=Ars Technica}} Following AOL's acquisition of Winamp, he became AOL's youngest vice president, heading its instant messaging division in 2004.{{Cite news |last=Rusli |first=Evelyn |date=6 October 2011 |title=In Flip-Flops and Jeans, An Unconventional Venture Capitalist |work=The New York Times |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/in-flip-flops-and-jeans-the-unconventional-venture-capitalist/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507053413/http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/in-flip-flops-and-jeans-the-unconventional-venture-capitalist/ |archive-date=7 May 2013}}{{Cite news |last=Stone |first=Madeline |date=1 June 2015 |title=Meet Facebook's most successful alum, a borderline billionaire who owns the Golden State Warriors |work=Business Insider |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/the-fabulous-life-of-facebook-millionaire-chamath-palihapitiya-2015-6 |url-status=live |access-date=22 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523173418/http://www.businessinsider.com/the-fabulous-life-of-facebook-millionaire-chamath-palihapitiya-2015-6 |archive-date=23 May 2018}} He briefly worked at Mayfield Fund before joining Facebook in 2007.

File:Chamath_Palihapitiya_2007.jpg

At Facebook, Palihapitiya led the release of Facebook Beacon, an advertising system which failed and became the subject of lawsuits. Palihapitiya next focused on new user growth; after four years, Facebook had 1 billion users.{{Cite news |last=Bennett |first=Drake |date=26 July 2012 |title=Social+Capital, the League of Extraordinarily Rich Gentlemen |newspaper=Bloomberg |url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-07-26/social-plus-capital-the-league-of-extraordinarily-rich-gentlemen |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429162230/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-07-26/social-plus-capital-the-league-of-extraordinarily-rich-gentlemen |archive-date=29 April 2013 |access-date=23 April 2013}}{{Cite web |title=Chamath Palihapitiya – How we put Facebook on the path to 1 billion users |url=https://genius.com/Chamath-palihapitiya-how-we-put-facebook-on-the-path-to-1-billion-users-annotated |access-date=23 September 2021 |website=Genius |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307231052/https://genius.com/Chamath-palihapitiya-how-we-put-facebook-on-the-path-to-1-billion-users-annotated |url-status=live }} Before leaving Facebook, Palihapitiya led the Facebook Phone and Facebook Home projects.{{Cite web |title=A Facebook phone that's pure Google at heart |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/4/9/4206176/htc-first-review-facebook-phone |access-date=5 April 2022 |website=The Verge |date=10 April 2013 |archive-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112035216/http://www.theverge.com/2013/4/9/4206176/htc-first-review-facebook-phone |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=The Facebook Phone Would Have Been an 'iPhone-Like Moment,' Says the Exec Who Led It |url=https://www.vox.com/2016/3/23/11587210/the-facebook-phone-would-have-been-an-iphone-like-moment-says-the |access-date=5 April 2022 |website=Vox |date=23 March 2016 |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307231047/https://www.vox.com/2016/3/23/11587210/the-facebook-phone-would-have-been-an-iphone-like-moment-says-the |url-status=live }}

Steven Levy wrote in Facebook: The Inside Story that Palihapitiya was regarded as a "bully" at Facebook,{{Cite book |last=Levy |first=Steven |title=Facebook: The Inside Story |year=2020 |publisher=Penguin Books Limited |isbn=978-0241297971}} and that his subordinates often cried as a result of his bullying.{{Cite news |last=Dodds |first=Laurence |date=18 April 2020 |title=The inside story of how Facebook went from idealism to scandal |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/inside-story-facebook-went-idealism-scandal/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128074621/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/inside-story-facebook-went-idealism-scandal/ |archive-date=28 January 2021 |issn=0307-1235}}

File:Graphing Social Patterns 07 - IMG 9566 (1526854767).jpg

After leaving Facebook, Palihapitiya founded Social Capital, with his then-wife.{{Cite news |last=Arrington |first=Michael |date=3 June 2011 |title=Facebook VP Chamath Palihapitiya Forms New Venture Fund, The Social+Capital Partnership |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/06/03/facebook-vp-chamath-venture-socialcapital/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412114548/http://techcrunch.com/2011/06/03/facebook-vp-chamath-venture-socialcapital/ |archive-date=12 April 2013}} The firm initially operated as a traditional venture capital fund, investing in companies including Yammer (acquired by Microsoft for $1.2B),{{Cite news |last=Rao |first=Leena |date=27 September 2011 |title=Former Facebook VP Chamath Palihapitiya Leads $17M Round In Enterprise Social Networking Platform Yammer |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/09/27/former-facebook-vp-chamath-palihapitiya-leads-17m-round-in-enterprise-social-networking-platform-yammer/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502040059/http://techcrunch.com/2011/09/27/former-facebook-vp-chamath-palihapitiya-leads-17m-round-in-enterprise-social-networking-platform-yammer/ |archive-date=2 May 2013}} SecondMarket,{{Cite news |last=Marshall |first=Matt |date=2 November 2011 |title=SecondMarket raises $15M at $200M valuation from former Facebook exec |work=VentureBeat |url=https://venturebeat.com/2011/11/02/secondmarket-raises-15m-at-200m-valuation-from-former-facebook-exec-palihapitiya/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224040212/http://venturebeat.com/2011/11/02/secondmarket-raises-15m-at-200m-valuation-from-former-facebook-exec-palihapitiya/ |archive-date=24 February 2013}} Slack (acquired by Salesforce for $27B), Swarm (acquired by SpaceX), Groq, and Box.{{Cite web |last=Billings |first=Mike |date=17 March 2015 |title=The Daily Startup: Paper Drawing App Aims for Enterprise With New Funding |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2015/03/17/the-daily-startup-paper-drawing-app-aims-for-enterprise-with-new-funding/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425135557/http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2015/03/17/the-daily-startup-paper-drawing-app-aims-for-enterprise-with-new-funding/ |archive-date=25 April 2015 |access-date=22 April 2015 |website=The Wall Street Journal Blog}} By 2015, the fund managed over $1.1 billion in assets.{{Cite web |last=Rao |first=Leena |date=23 March 2016 |title=Is Social+Capital's Chamath Palihapitiya the future of venture capital? |url=http://fortune.com/2015/05/18/is-socialcapitals-chamath-palihapitiya-the-future-of-venture-capital/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223142551/http://fortune.com/2015/05/18/is-socialcapitals-chamath-palihapitiya-the-future-of-venture-capital/ |archive-date=23 February 2016 |access-date=23 February 2016 |publisher=FORTUNE}}{{Cite news |last=Ha |first=Anthony |date=4 March 2013 |title=Chamath Palihapitiya Confirms That His Social+Capital Partnership Has Raised A New Fund Of $275M+ |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/03/04/social-capital-partnership-new-fund/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424041242/http://techcrunch.com/2013/03/04/social-capital-partnership-new-fund/ |archive-date=24 April 2013}}{{Cite news |last=Grant |first=Rebecca |date=4 March 2013 |title=Making money and a difference, Social+Capital Partnership confirms new fund |work=VentureBeat |url=https://venturebeat.com/2013/03/04/making-money-and-a-difference-socialcapital-partnership-confirms-new-fund/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523130448/http://venturebeat.com/2013/03/04/making-money-and-a-difference-socialcapital-partnership-confirms-new-fund/ |archive-date=23 May 2013}}

In 2018, Social Capital underwent significant changes, transitioning from a multi-LP venture capital fund to a family office structure.{{Cite web |last=Palihapitiya |first=Chamath |date=7 September 2018 |title=What went wrong at Social Capital |url=https://www.axios.com/social-capital-collapse-0c3257ab-b599-4047-b5cc-5d465419b373.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016213132/https://www.axios.com/social-capital-collapse-0c3257ab-b599-4047-b5cc-5d465419b373.html |archive-date=16 October 2020 |access-date=9 October 2020 |publisher=Axios}}{{Cite web |last=LBO |date=10 September 2018 |title=Ex-Facebook exec Chamath Palihapitiya's venture firm is 'imploding': Report |url=https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/ex-facebook-exec-chamath-palihapitiyas-venture-firm-is-imploding-report/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716103117/https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/ex-facebook-exec-chamath-palihapitiyas-venture-firm-is-imploding-report/ |archive-date=16 July 2019 |access-date=14 October 2020 |website=Lanka Business Online |language=en-US}} Since then, Social Capital has made investments in three areas: climate science, life sciences, and biotechnology, and the decentralization of the digital economy through platforms such as blockchain, crypto, and digital assets. Palihapitiya manages from a balance sheet of permanent capital.{{Cite news |date=12 February 2021 |title='All Things Chamath': Palihapitiya Outlines His Vision |work=Bloomberg Front Row |publisher=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2021-02-12/-all-things-chamath-palihapitiya-outlines-his-vision-video |access-date=12 February 2021 |archive-date=30 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230223208/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2021-02-12/-all-things-chamath-palihapitiya-outlines-his-vision-video |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Ramkumar |first=Amrith |date=15 November 2021 |title=Chamath Palihapitiya's Social Capital Leads 20 Million Funding Round for Battery Startup |work=Bloomberg Front Row |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/chamath-palihapitiyas-social-capital-leads-20-million-funding-round-for-battery-startup-11636974000 |access-date=15 November 2021 |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307231137/https://www.wsj.com/articles/chamath-palihapitiyas-social-capital-leads-20-million-funding-round-for-battery-startup-11636974000 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=9 November 2021 |title=Fintech startup Spectral Finance raises funds from Chamath, Polychain |work=Bloomberg Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/spectral-finance-funding-idUSL4N2S02R8 |access-date=9 November 2021 |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307231121/https://www.reuters.com/article/spectral-finance-funding-idUSL4N2S02R8 |url-status=live }}

Palihapitiya has become a prominent figure in the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) movement. Notable deals include taking Virgin Galactic public in 2019,{{Cite news |title=Virgin Galactic dealmaker defies IPO lull with 720 million blank check deal |website=Reuters |date=21 April 2020 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-social-capital-ipo/virgin-galactic-dealmaker-defies-ipo-lull-with-720-million-blank-check-deal-idUSKCN22331U |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610045324/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-social-capital-ipo/virgin-galactic-dealmaker-defies-ipo-lull-with-720-million-blank-check-deal-idUSKCN22331U |archive-date=10 June 2020 |access-date=10 June 2020}} Opendoor in 2020, and later SoFi{{Cite web |last1=Franklin |first1=Joshua |last2=Sen |first2=Anirban |last3=Hu |first3=Krystal |date=7 January 2021 |title=Online lender SoFi to go public through merger with Palihapitiya-backed SPAC |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sofi-ma-social-cap/online-lender-sofi-to-go-public-through-merger-with-palihapitiya-backed-spac-idUSL1N2JI2HZ |website=Reuters |access-date=2 April 2021 |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203052105/https://www.reuters.com/article/sofi-ma-social-cap/online-lender-sofi-to-go-public-through-merger-with-palihapitiya-backed-spac-idUSL1N2JI2HZ |url-status=live }} and Clover Health.{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Yun |date=6 October 2020 |title=Chamath Palihapitiya to take Clover Health public in another SPAC deal worth $3.7 billion |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/06/chamath-palihapitiya-to-take-clover-health-public-in-another-spac-deal-worth-3point7-billion.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125181421/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/06/chamath-palihapitiya-to-take-clover-health-public-in-another-spac-deal-worth-3point7-billion.html |archive-date=25 January 2021 |access-date=28 January 2021 |website=CNBC}}

While historically a Democratic Party donor,{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Maanvi |date=20 April 2021 |title='All you need is the filing fee and a dream': who are Gavin Newsom's recall challengers? |url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/20/gavin-newsom-california-governor-challengers |access-date=15 May 2021 |website=The Guardian |language=en |quote=The former Facebook executive Chamath Palihapitiya, a big Democratic donor |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307231140/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/20/gavin-newsom-california-governor-challengers |url-status=live }} contributing approximately $1.3 million over a decade,{{Cite web |last=Shultz |first=Alex |date=30 January 2021 |title=Chamath Palihapitiya, who is very rich, wants you to believe he's on your side. He's not. |url=https://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Opinion-Warriors-part-owner-Chamath-Palihapitiya-15903403.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130224827/https://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Opinion-Warriors-part-owner-Chamath-Palihapitiya-15903403.php |archive-date=30 January 2021 |access-date=31 January 2021 |website=SFGate |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Garofoli |first=Joe |date=4 February 2021 |title=Silicon Valley billionaire Chamath Palihapitiya: would-be governor just for a moment |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Silicon-Valley-billionaire-Chamath-Palihapitiya-15922431.php |access-date=1 October 2021 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en-US |archive-date=20 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320132052/https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Silicon-Valley-billionaire-Chamath-Palihapitiya-15922431.php |url-status=live }} he has recently shifted toward Republican support.{{cite news|title=Some Silicon Valley VCs Are Becoming More Conservative|work=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/23/technology/silicon-valley-conservative-trump.html|date=23 May 2024}}

In 2011, Palihapitiya donated $7,500 to U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz. In March 2020, Palihapitiya told The New York Times that he would like to see Michael Bloomberg at the top of the Democratic ticket in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, paired with Amy Klobuchar or Elizabeth Warren.{{Cite news |last1=Bowles |first1=Nellie |last2=Griffith |first2=Erin |date=2 March 2020 |title=Silicon Valley Leaders' Plea to Democrats: Anyone but Sanders |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/02/technology/silicon-valley-bernie-sanders.html |access-date=1 October 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=4 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304114509/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/02/technology/silicon-valley-bernie-sanders.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Eugene |title=Billionaire VC says he'll shut down his firm to help Mike Bloomberg win US presidency |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/chamath-palihapitiya-wants-mike-bloomberg-for-us-president-2016-3 |access-date=20 December 2021 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307231155/https://www.businessinsider.com/chamath-palihapitiya-wants-mike-bloomberg-for-us-president-2016-3 |url-status=live }} In 2023, he hosted a $50,000-per-plate fundraiser for presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy,{{Cite web |last=Pandey |first=Priyanka |date=25 September 2023 |title=Vivek Ramaswamy's Silicon Valley Fundraiser Tickets To Cost Nearly $50,000 |url=https://www.inquisitr.com/vivek-ramaswamys-silicon-valley-fundraiser-tickets-cost-nearly-50-000 |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Inquisitr |archive-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207180826/https://www.inquisitr.com/vivek-ramaswamys-silicon-valley-fundraiser-tickets-cost-nearly-50-000 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Vivek Ramaswamy's 'intimate dinner' invite comes with a $50,000 price tag |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/vivek-ramaswamys-intimate-dinner-fund-raiser-will-cost-50000-usd-in-san-francisco-bay-area-2439427-2023-09-23 |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=India Today |date=23 September 2023 |language=en |archive-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207180820/https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/vivek-ramaswamys-intimate-dinner-fund-raiser-will-cost-50000-usd-in-san-francisco-bay-area-2439427-2023-09-23 |url-status=live }} and in 2024, co-hosted a $12 million Trump fundraiser with his All-In Podcast co-host David O. Sacks in San Francisco.{{Cite web |last=Schleifer |first=Theodore |date=2024-05-15 |title=Sacksfest '24 & Melinda's Split Decision |url=https://puck.news/melinda-gates-125-billion-question/ |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=Puck |language=en-US |archive-date=17 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517081431/https://puck.news/melinda-gates-125-billion-question/ |url-status=live }} He was a co-host, along with Jacqueline Sacks, David Sacks's wife, of the fundraising event, which raised $12 million and was held on 6 June 2024 at Sacks's Pacific Heights home.{{Cite web |last=Ulmer |first=Alexandra |date=7 June 2024 |title=Trump rakes in $12 million at tech fundraiser in liberal San Francisco |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-liberal-san-francisco-high-dollar-tech-fundraiser-2024-06-06/ |website=Reuters}}

Previously, in early 2021, he briefly considered running in the California gubernatorial recall election before withdrawing from consideration.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Jeremy B. |date=2021-02-03 |title=Venture capitalist Palihapitiya says he's not running for California governor |url=https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2021/02/03/venture-capitalist-palihapitiya-says-hes-not-running-for-california-governor-1361725 |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Primack |first=Dan |date=2021-01-27 |title=Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya eyes run for California governor |url=https://www.axios.com/2021/01/27/chamath-palihapitiya-california-governor |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Axios |language=en}}

Palihapitiya was listed as one of the "Founders" of the lobbying group FWD.us.{{Cite web |title=Our Supporters |url=http://www.fwd.us/our_supporters |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413230948/http://www.fwd.us/our_supporters |archive-date=13 April 2013 |access-date=23 April 2013 |publisher=FWD.us}} The group launched on 11 April 2013, and its goals include immigration reform, improving education, and enabling technological innovation, all in a United States context.{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.fwd.us/about_us |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413230918/http://www.fwd.us/about_us |archive-date=13 April 2013 |access-date=23 April 2013 |publisher=FWD.us}}{{Cite news |last=Zuckerberg |first=Mark |date=11 April 2013 |title=Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg: Immigration and the knowledge economy |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mark-zuckerberg-immigrants-are-the-key-to-a-knowledge-economy/2013/04/10/aba05554-a20b-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html |url-status=live |access-date=17 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413201240/http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mark-zuckerberg-immigrants-are-the-key-to-a-knowledge-economy/2013/04/10/aba05554-a20b-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html |archive-date=13 April 2013}} An article in The New Republic stated that Palihapitiya received a weekly report about FWD.us and also quoted him as saying, in response to controversy around the FWD.us political lobbying strategy: "The folks that are actually people that run that day to day are sophisticated and understand the nuances of how to affect it{{nbsp}}... It's a really gnarly, gnarly thing having to deal with Washington. And to be honest with you, my perspective was, it's a really good investment because it's a good way to pay it forward, and I'm really glad there are other people other than me who are dealing with it who have the patience and resolve to figure it out."{{Cite magazine |last=DePillis |first=Lydia |date=6 May 2013 |title=Mark Zuckerberg's Cynical, Necessary Washington Strategy |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/113117/mark-zuckerbergs-immigration-reform-strategy-necessary-cynicism |url-status=live |magazine=The New Republic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102230103/http://www.newrepublic.com/article/113117/mark-zuckerbergs-immigration-reform-strategy-necessary-cynicism |archive-date=2 November 2013 |access-date=7 May 2013}}

At Bloomberg's Next Big Thing conference in Sausalito, California, Palihapitiya made remarks critical of San Francisco's then mayor, Ed Lee, and proposed that the city provide subsidized housing to low-income residents funded by an equity tax on startups, with the tax-and-subsidy schemes potentially restricted to particular zones of the city. This led to a heated debate between Palihapitiya and super angel Ron Conway.{{Cite web |last=Montgomery |first=Kevin |title=Ron Conway Flips Out Over Call for SF Mayor Ed Lee to Resign |url=http://valleywag.gawker.com/ron-conway-flips-out-over-call-for-sf-mayor-ed-lee-to-r-1588288701 |access-date=20 December 2021 |website=Gawker |date=9 June 2014 |language=en |archive-date=28 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128063316/https://valleywag.gawker.com/ron-conway-flips-out-over-call-for-sf-mayor-ed-lee-to-r-1588288701 |url-status=live }} Conway, a supporter of Lee, defended the city's policies, argued that things would get better for all residents, and noted that Palihapitiya lives in Palo Alto rather than in the city.{{Cite magazine |last=Oremus |first=Will |date=9 June 2014 |title=Tech Conference Turns Into Shouting Match About Inequality in Silicon Valley |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/06/09/ron_conway_chamath_palihapitiya_get_into_shouting_match_at_sausalito_tech.html |url-status=live |magazine=Slate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711005044/http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/06/09/ron_conway_chamath_palihapitiya_get_into_shouting_match_at_sausalito_tech.html |archive-date=11 July 2015 |access-date=9 July 2015}}{{Cite news |last=Garofoli |first=Joe |date=9 June 2014 |title=Ron Conway mocks fellow venture capitalist, uses phrase 'Palo Alto resident' as insult |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://blog.sfgate.com/techchron/2014/06/09/ron-conway-mocks-fellow-venture-capitalist-uses-phrase-palo-alto-resident-as-insult/ |url-status=live |access-date=9 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710155449/http://blog.sfgate.com/techchron/2014/06/09/ron-conway-mocks-fellow-venture-capitalist-uses-phrase-palo-alto-resident-as-insult/ |archive-date=10 July 2015}} In a later clarification to TechCrunch, Palihapitiya outlined his vision in more detail and described how his views on inequality and social mobility were shaped by his experience growing up with poor immigrant parents in Canada.{{Cite news |last=Buhr |first=Sarah |date=9 June 2014 |title=Ron Conway And Chamath Palihapitiya Debate SF Housing And Google At Next Big Thing Conference |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/06/09/eruption-over-sf-housing-and-google-breaks-out-at-next-big-thing-conference/ |url-status=live |access-date=9 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711033435/http://techcrunch.com/2014/06/09/eruption-over-sf-housing-and-google-breaks-out-at-next-big-thing-conference/ |archive-date=11 July 2015}}

In 2017, Palihapitiya sparked discussion about social media's societal impact, drawing from his experience at Facebook.{{Cite web |last=Kovach |first=Steve |date=11 December 2017 |title=Former Facebook exec feels 'tremendous guilt' for what he helped make |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/former-facebook-exec-chamath-palihapitiya-social-media-damaging-society-2017-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104192517/http://www.businessinsider.com/former-facebook-exec-chamath-palihapitiya-social-media-damaging-society-2017-12 |archive-date=4 January 2018 |access-date=29 January 2021 |website=Business Insider}} He argued that while social platforms could be "a force for good," their design created "dopamine-driven feedback loops" that could harm social discourse and behavior.{{Cite news |last=Wong |first=Julia Carrie |author-link=Julia Carrie Wong |date=December 12, 2017 |title=Former Facebook executive: social media is ripping society apart |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/dec/11/facebook-former-executive-ripping-society-apart |url-status=live |access-date=December 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212020004/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/dec/11/facebook-former-executive-ripping-society-apart |archive-date=December 12, 2017}}{{cite news | last=Gilbert | first=Ben | date=15 December 2017 | url=http://www.businessinsider.com/former-facebook-exec-adds-context-to-social-media-criticism-2017-12 | title=Former Facebook exec: I take back what I said about Facebook 'destroying how society works' — kinda | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215223914/http://www.businessinsider.com/former-Facebook-exec-adds-context-to-social-media-criticism-2017-12/ | archivedate=2017-12-15 | work=Business Insider}} This perspective extends to his personal life, where he actively limits his children's screen time and social media exposure, emphasizing direct engagement over technological dependence.

On 25 January 2021, Palihapitiya announced he would challenge incumbent California Governor Gavin Newsom in the event Newsom was recalled.{{Cite news |last=Franklin |first=Joshua |date=26 January 2021 |title=Investor Palihapitiya says he wants to be governor of California |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-governor-palihapitiya-idUSKBN29V2PE |url-status=live |access-date=29 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128191305/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-governor-palihapitiya-idUSKBN29V2PE |archive-date=28 January 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Primack |first=Dan |date=27 January 2021 |title=Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya eyes run for California governor |url=https://www.axios.com/chamath-palihapitiya-california-governor-8d47da34-cdbe-4c16-a93b-a547fe875997.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127153542/https://www.axios.com/chamath-palihapitiya-california-governor-8d47da34-cdbe-4c16-a93b-a547fe875997.html |archive-date=27 January 2021 |access-date=29 January 2021 |website=Axios |language=en}} If elected, Palihapitiya said he would cut the state income tax rate from 16 to 0 percent, provide free education vouchers, allow for a two thousand dollar credit for every child born in California, and work to make California the center of climate and technology jobs. He shared a campaign website that was created by a supporter.{{Cite web |title=Chamath for Gov |url=https://www.chamathforca.com/ |access-date=29 August 2021 |website=www.chamathforca.com |archive-date=29 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429100031/https://www.chamathforca.com/ |url-status=live }}

In February 2021, however, Palihapitiya declared he would not run for governor.{{Cite news |last=Bursztynsky |first=Jessica |date=3 February 2021 |title=Tech investor Chamath Palihapitiya says he's not running for California governor |language=en |work=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/03/chamath-palihapitiya-says-hes-not-running-for-california-governor.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204074819/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/03/chamath-palihapitiya-says-hes-not-running-for-california-governor.html |archive-date=4 February 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Ford |first=Brody |date=26 January 2021 |title=Palihapitiya Angles for Newsom's Job as Tech Group Backs Recall |language=en |work=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-26/techies-push-to-recall-california-governor-one-wants-his-job |url-status=live |access-date=29 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126201437/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-26/techies-push-to-recall-california-governor-one-wants-his-job |archive-date=26 January 2021}}

In January 2022, Palihapitiya said on the All-In podcast to co-host Jason Calacanis that the alleged persecution of Uyghurs in China does not concern him:

Nobody cares about what's happening to the Uyghurs, okay. You bring it up because you care and I think it's nice that you care. The rest of us don't care. I'm just telling you a very hard, ugly truth. Of all the things that I care about, yes, it is below my line.{{Cite web|title=E63: Insurrection indictments, human rights in the US and abroad, groundbreaking MS study and more|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbeHyN15HQE|url-status=live|access-date=January 18, 2022|website=YouTube| date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115090711/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbeHyN15HQE |archive-date=15 January 2022 }}{{Cite web |date=2022-01-18 |title=Warriors part-owner backtracks after saying he doesn't care about Uyghur abuse |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jan/18/warriors-part-owner-backtracks-after-saying-he-doesnt-care-about-uyghur-abuse |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307231246/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jan/18/warriors-part-owner-backtracks-after-saying-he-doesnt-care-about-uyghur-abuse |url-status=live }}{{cite web|last1=Nuttall|first1=Jeremy|date=January 19, 2022|title=Canadian billionaire Chamath Palihapitiya said 'nobody' cares about Uyghurs — but advocates say he might have helped the cause|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/01/19/canadian-billionaire-chamath-palihapitiya-said-nobody-cares-about-uyghurs-but-advocates-say-he-might-have-helped-the-cause.html|url-status=live|access-date=22 January 2022|website=Toronto Star|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119221247/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/01/19/canadian-billionaire-chamath-palihapitiya-said-nobody-cares-about-uyghurs-but-advocates-say-he-might-have-helped-the-cause.html |archive-date=19 January 2022 }}

Palihapitiya said he and most Americans care more about domestic economic issues than the human rights abuses of China's Uyghur minority.{{cite news |title=Do Uyghur Lives Matter to Americans? |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/01/uyghur-lives-americans/621296/ |work=The Atlantic |date=19 January 2022 |access-date=15 October 2022 |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307231537/https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/01/uyghur-lives-americans/621296/ |url-status=live }} In response, the Golden State Warriors issued a statement saying that Palihapitiya "does not speak on behalf of our franchise, and his views certainly don't reflect those of our organization." Palihapitiya later apologized for these comments in a tweet, stating that he recognized he came across as "lacking empathy" and that "To be clear, my belief is that human rights matter, whether in China, the United States, or elsewhere. Full stop."{{Cite web|last=Keraghosian|first=Greg|date=18 January 2022|title=Outcry after Dubs part-owner says 'nobody cares' about genocide|url=https://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Palihapitiya-says-he-doesnt-care-Uyghur-genocide-16783558.php|url-status=live|access-date=18 January 2022|website=SFGate|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118031934/https://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Palihapitiya-says-he-doesnt-care-Uyghur-genocide-16783558.php |archive-date=18 January 2022 }}{{Cite web |last=Geraghty |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Geraghty |date=18 January 2022 |title=Investor's Uyghur Comments Are Even Worse Than You've Heard |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/investors-uyghur-comments-are-even-worse-than-youve-heard/ |access-date=30 May 2022 |website=National Review |language=en-US |archive-date=8 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308002310/https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/investors-uyghur-comments-are-even-worse-than-youve-heard/ |url-status=live }}

In 2010, Palihapitiya acquired a 10% stake in the Golden State Warriors;{{Cite web |last=Luce |first=Ivan De |date=19 January 2021 |title=The Warriors weren't even his first choice: Chamath Palihapitiya explains one of the most successful NBA investments of all time |url=https://www.businessofbusiness.com/articles/chamath-warriors-nba-investment-social-capital-vc/ |access-date=15 May 2021 |website=Business of Business |language=en |archive-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327101354/https://www.businessofbusiness.com/articles/chamath-warriors-nba-investment-social-capital-vc/ |url-status=live }} he sold his stake in the team in June 2023, remains a minority stakeholder and board member of the team.{{Cite web |last=Roose |first=Kevin |date=16 October 2013 |title=The Government Shutdown Has Revealed Silicon Valley's Dysfunction Fetish |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2013/10/silicon-valleys-dysfunction-fetish.html |access-date=15 May 2021 |website=Intelligencer |language=en-us |archive-date=14 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414212233/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2013/10/silicon-valleys-dysfunction-fetish.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web|date=19 January 2022|title=Backlash as US billionaire dismisses Uyghur abuse|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60045076|url-status=live|access-date=22 January 2022|website=BBC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118171429/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60045076 |archive-date=18 January 2022 }} Palihapitiya has donated consistently to his alma mater, the University of Waterloo, including a $25 million donation to the engineering department in 2018.{{Cite news |title=Waterloo Alumnus Donates $25 Million to Help Transform Education|newspaper=Waterloo News |date=30 October 2018 |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/news/news/waterloo-alumnus-donates-25-million-help-transform-education |url-status=live |access-date=30 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108225221/https://uwaterloo.ca/news/news/waterloo-alumnus-donates-25-million-help-transform-education |archive-date=8 January 2022 }} In 2021, he donated $7 million to provide clean drinking water to 1,000 families in California's Central Valley through hydropanels technology.{{Cite web |last=Lin |first=Connie |date=30 August 2021 |title=Chamath Palihapitiya pledges $7 million to California hydropanels that pull water out of air |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90669730/chamath-palihapitiya-pledges-7-million-to-california-hydropanels-that-pull-water-out-of-air |access-date=8 January 2022 |website=Fast Company |language=en-US |archive-date=20 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220162828/https://www.fastcompany.com/90669730/chamath-palihapitiya-pledges-7-million-to-california-hydropanels-that-pull-water-out-of-air |url-status=live }}

After graduating from the University of Waterloo, Palihapitiya followed his future wife Brigette Lau to California.{{Cite web |last=Belvedere |first=Matthew J. |date=12 December 2017 |title=My kids get 'no screen time whatsoever,' says Silicon Valley investor Chamath Palihapitiya |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/12/chamath-palihapitiya-my-kids-get-no-screen-time-whatsoever.html |access-date=11 April 2021 |website=CNBC |language=en |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307231218/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/12/chamath-palihapitiya-my-kids-get-no-screen-time-whatsoever.html |url-status=live }} They had three children before divorcing in 2018.{{Cite web |title=Chamath Palihapitiya Still Lives Four Minutes From His Ex-Wife |url=https://marketrealist.com/p/chamath-palihapitiya-wife/ |access-date=11 April 2021 |website=Market Realist |date=17 February 2021 |language=en-US |archive-date=23 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323212156/https://marketrealist.com/p/chamath-palihapitiya-wife/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Celarier |first=Michelle |date=31 May 2020 |title=The Unusual Ambitions of Chamath Palihapitiya |url=https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/b1lw211ts92n62/The-Unusual-Ambitions-of-Chamath-Palihapitiya |access-date=15 May 2021 |website=Institutional Investor |language=en-gb |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307231220/https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/b1lw211ts92n62/The-Unusual-Ambitions-of-Chamath-Palihapitiya |url-status=live }} He later married Nathalie Dompé, an Italian business executive, in 2023. They have two children together.{{cite magazine |last=Nicolini |first=Marzia |date=27 July 2023 |title=Nathalie Dompé ha sposato a Portofino il miliardario partito dal niente Chamath Palihapitiya |trans-title=Nathalie Dompé married the billionaire who started from nothing Chamath Palihapitiya in Portofino |url=https://www.vanityfair.it/article/nathalie-dompe-ha-sposato-portofino-miliardario-chamath-palihapitiya |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=it |access-date=29 July 2023 |archive-date=29 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729030838/https://www.vanityfair.it/article/nathalie-dompe-ha-sposato-portofino-miliardario-chamath-palihapitiya |url-status=live }}

An accomplished poker player, Palihapitiya has competed in both World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour events, with total winnings of $175,801.{{Cite web |title=Chamath Palihapitiya: Cash Out |url=http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-players/214938-chamath-palihapitiya |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308035926/http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-players/214938-chamath-palihapitiya |archive-date=8 March 2016 |access-date=22 February 2016}} In 2011, he placed 101st out of 6,865 entries in the WSOP Main Event.{{Cite web |title=42nd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2011 United States |url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=51923 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228171143/http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=51923 |archive-date=28 February 2016 |access-date=22 February 2016}}

Palihapitiya purchased a $75 million Bombardier Global 7500 in 2020.{{Cite web |last=Faux |first=Zeke |date=13 May 2020 |title=The SPAC King Is Doing Just Fine Even as the Bubble Starts to Burst |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-05-13/spac-king-chamath-palihapitiya-hopes-his-hype-will-keep-mesmerizing-you |url-status=live |access-date=15 July 2021 |website=Bloomberg News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513101535/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-05-13/spac-king-chamath-palihapitiya-hopes-his-hype-will-keep-mesmerizing-you |archive-date=13 May 2021 }}

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Category:1976 births

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