Peter Thiel enters oil market with US$76 million stake in Vaca Muertas top exporter

United States billionaire entrepreneur and venture capitalist Peter Thiel has bought a US$76 million stake in Argentina’s biggest oil exporter, Vista Energy, marking his first investment in the oil sector and his first step into Patagonia’s Vaca Muerta oil field. Thiel’s hedge fund, Thiel Macro LLC, acquired a 1% stake in Vista Energy SAB, equivalent to nearly 1.2 million shares, at the end of the second quarter, Bloomberg reported. Bloomberg revealed that Thiel Macro LLC acquired the stake during the second quarter of 2026. By June 30, when the quarter ended, the stake was worth around US$76 million and was surpassed only by the fund’s position in Amazon.com Inc., according to the financial outlet.  Bloomberg also reported that Vista is the only non-U.S. company in the hedge fund’s portfolio. Vista’s shares jumped in New York on Monday following reports of Thiel’s purchase, rising 5.6% to US$72.16, their highest level in two months, Bloomberg added. Thiel, owner of Palantir and co-founder of PayPal, already has investments in other energy companies, a sector that has become increasingly important in recent years. Peter Thiel in Argentina Thiel’s decision to invest in the Argentine oil company further cements his interest in Argentina. The right-wing magnate has met with President Javier Milei, members of his government and local politicians in recent months and even lived in the country for a few months. Thiel bought a mansion in an upscale Buenos Aires neighborhood last April and temporarily enrolled his children in a local school, although he only stayed in Argentina until June.  He is expected to return in September to give a talk at a Libertarian event. On Monday, a group of people dressed as Gandalf, the beloved character from The Lord of the Rings, protested outside Thiel’s mansion, holding a banner that read: “You shall not pass, la concha de tu madre.” The final part of the sentence is a popular Argentine insult that can be literally translated as “Your mom’s vagina.” Un grupo de manifestantes disfrazados de Gandalf protestó frente a la mansión de Peter Thiel en Palermo Chico, Buenos Aires, contra su inversión de 76 millones de dólares en Vista Energy y su empresa Palantir.¿Por qué Gandalf?Peter Thiel es un gran fanático de El Señor de los…— Adi el Grande (@icardo8) August 18, 2026 The Gandalfs also sang, in Spanish and to the tune of the Village People song YMCA: “If you’re not jumping you own Palantir, and in Argentina you shall not live.” The song referred to Thiel’s company Palantir, which develops data integration and surveillance services.  Thiel is a declared fan of The Lord of the Rings saga. In the books and movies, a palantir is a crystal stone that allows users to see events happening in distant places or communicate telepathically. Palantir has faced heavy scrutiny over its role in government surveillance using artificial intelligence (AI) and facial recognition software, especially in the United States under the Donald Trump administration, where it has been linked to deportation cases. Digital twin The potential arrival of Thiel’s Palantir in Argentina stirred widespread concern in late May after Milei’s government announced the launch of a new program called “social digital twin,” which aimed to create simulations of potential social scenarios with AI using citizens’ data to improve public policies. Some critics linked the announcement to the provision of AI surveillance services by Palantir, given that the company offers a very similar service under the same name and Thiel was staying in the country at the time. However, the government has denied Thiel’s involvement, as well as that of any other external company. The program has not yet been developed.