Peter Thiel receives Axel Springer Award in Berlin as hundreds protest tech investor

Award ceremony in Berlin

Axel Springer presented tech investor Peter Thiel with the tenth Axel Springer Award on 24 September 2026 in Berlin. Axel Springer chief executive Mathias Döpfner praised the Frankfurt-born entrepreneur as an unconventional pioneer in venture investing and one of the most impactful German figures of modern times. Palantir chief executive Alex Karp delivered a pre-recorded address in German, referring to his business partner as the last German and stating that Germany could learn from his qualities. CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and former world chess champion Garry Kasparov also spoke in support of Thiel during the evening event. Döpfner noted that the non-monetary prize honors figures who change markets, placing Thiel alongside previous recipients including Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Tim Berners-Lee.

Mathias Döpfner addressed Thiel's entrepreneurial record in his opening remarks.

“We honor the most impactful German of our time.”

Media critique and housing remarks

During an onstage conversation with Döpfner, Thiel addressed public criticism and voiced strong objections to contemporary media coverage. He questioned why significant portions of the press had deteriorated into what he termed a left-wing hate factory. Thiel praised Döpfner and Weiss as courageously providing counter-voices across an otherwise one-sided media environment. He also commented on the recent election victory of Die Linke in Berlin's state parliament, acknowledging that high living costs present a severe challenge for residents. However, he warned that rent controls would fail to solve the housing shortage and would likely turn Berlin into a slum.

Thiel also responded to questions regarding his 2009 essay on democracy and individual freedom, calling the piece a hastily written text that has followed him ever since.

“I do not believe that I said anything particularly controversial.”

Protests and union opposition

Outside the Axel Springer building, several hundred demonstrators gathered for a protest organized by left-wing groups. Demonstrators staged a costume event themed around Gandalf under the slogan Thiel shall not pass, playing on Palantir's fictional origins in J.R.R. Tolkien's literature. A spokesperson for the demonstration argued that modern armed conflicts are conducted using data software that enriches Thiel. Police reported that the demonstration proceeded without incident throughout the evening.

The German Journalists Association (DJV) voiced sharp criticism of the award ceremony. DJV federal chairman Mika Beuster pointed out that a US federal court had on the same day overturned Donald Trump's White House access ban on journalists from Politico, a publication owned by Axel Springer.

“That does not fit together.”

Venture history and security debate

Thiel studied philosophy at Stanford University, completing his bachelor's degree in 1989 and his law degree in 1992. In 1998, he launched Confinity with Max Levchin, which merged with Elon Musk's X.com in 2000 to establish PayPal. Thiel served as chief executive until PayPal's 2002 initial public offering and acquisition by eBay, which yielded $55 million that he used to establish Clarium Capital. In 2003, Thiel co-founded Palantir Technologies, building data analytics tools used by the CIA, police forces, and defense agencies in counterterrorism and military operations, including in Ukraine. While German politicians like Green MP Sebastian Schäfer have criticized Palantir's surveillance capabilities, Axel Springer described the company as vital for democratic resilience.