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Alex Karp

Person

CEO of Palantir, who serves as the main speaker, discussing his company's controversial work, geopolitical strategies, and his philosophical views on the decline of the West.


First Mentioned

9/10/2025, 1:45:59 AM

Last Updated

9/10/2025, 1:47:51 AM

Research Retrieved

9/10/2025, 1:47:51 AM

Summary

Alex Karp, born October 2, 1967, is an American billionaire businessman, widely recognized as the co-founder and CEO of Palantir Technologies. He has led Palantir since 2004, taking the company public in September 2020, and as of April 2022, his net worth was estimated at US$1.1 billion. Karp is a prominent and outspoken figure, known for robustly defending Palantir's controversial work with the U.S. government, including agencies like ICE, under both the Trump and Biden administrations. He argues that in the age of AI, controlled borders are essential and that Palantir's technology, such as the Foundry platform, is vital for effective governance while protecting civil liberties, refuting claims of mass data collection. On the global stage, Karp has confirmed Palantir's support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas and maintains a policy of not working with adversaries like China and Russia, linking China to the fentanyl crisis in America. Philosophically, Karp critiques Western societal decline, pointing to Europe as an example of societies abandoning meritocracy and cultural pride, and criticizes modern progressivism for harming the working class through policies like open immigration. He suggests that the rise of antisemitism is a dangerous symptom of growing anti-meritocratic sentiment, contrasting this with an American ideal rooted in Calvinism that celebrates success. His diverse educational background, including a PhD in philosophy, informs his unique perspective on technology, governance, and societal issues.

Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
  • Father

    Robert Joseph Karp

  • Mother

    Leah Jaynes Karp

  • Full Name

    Alexander Caedmon Karp

  • Net Worth

    US$1.1 billion (as of April 2022)

  • Alma Mater

    Haverford College (BA), Stanford University (JD), Goethe University Frankfurt (PhD)

  • Occupation

    Businessman, CEO

  • Citizenship

    United States

  • High School

    Central High School, Philadelphia

  • Key Beliefs

    Controlled borders are essential in the age of AI; Palantir's technology protects civil liberties; Critique of Western societal decline, modern progressivism, and anti-meritocratic sentiment; American ideal rooted in Calvinism; Links China to fentanyl crisis.

  • Date of Birth

    1967-10-02

  • Personal Trait

    Struggled with dyslexia from an early age

  • Place of Birth

    New York City, U.S.

Timeline
  • Born Alexander Caedmon Karp in New York City, U.S. (Source: Summary, Wikidata, DBPedia, Web Search)

    1967-10-02

  • Graduated from Central High School in Philadelphia. (Source: Web Search (Wikipedia snippet))

    1985

  • Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Haverford College. (Source: Web Search)

    1989

  • Co-founded Palantir Technologies with Peter Thiel. (Source: Web Search (Wikipedia snippet))

    2003

  • Became the CEO of Palantir Technologies. (Source: Web Search (Business Insider snippet))

    2004

  • Palantir Technologies went public on the New York Stock Exchange. (Source: Web Search (Clay snippet))

    2020-09-00

  • His net worth was estimated at US$1.1 billion. (Source: Summary, DBPedia)

    2022-04-00

  • Attended the AI Safety Summit in London. (Source: Web Search (Wikipedia snippet))

    2023-11-00

  • Robustly defended Palantir's work with the U.S. government, including agencies like ICE, under both the Trump and Biden administrations, arguing for controlled borders and civil liberties protection. (Source: Summary, Related Document)

    Ongoing

  • Confirmed Palantir's support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas and reaffirmed the company's policy of not working with adversaries like China and Russia. (Source: Summary, Related Document)

    Ongoing

  • Criticized Western societal decline, modern progressivism, and linked China to the fentanyl crisis in America. (Source: Summary, Related Document)

    Ongoing

Web Search Results
  • Alex Karp: The Man Behind Palantir and the Art of Merging Data and ...

    Born on October 2, 1967, in New York, Alexander Caedmon Karp, better known as Alex Karp, is the co-founder and CEO of Palantir Technologies, a company specialized in data analysis. His journey is marked by a strong academic background, having studied at Haverford College before obtaining a degree in German philosophy in Frankfurt under the tutelage of the famous philosopher Jürgen Habermas. This atypical training for a tech executive provides Karp with a unique perspective that informs his [...] Alexander Caedmon Karp, born on October 2, 1967, in New York, is a visionary businessman widely recognized for his contributions to data analysis and national security. After an extensive education in philosophy under the tutelage of Jürgen Habermas and a degree in art from Haverford College, Karp has established himself as a key player in the technology field by co-founding Palantir Technologies. The company, named after the “seeing stone” from fantasy narratives, has become a pillar of big [...] Alexander C. Karp, better known as Alex Karp, was born on October 2, 1967, in New York. He has built an exceptional reputation in the technology sector thanks to a background marked by impressive academic training. Graduating from Haverford College in 1989 with a B.A. in art, Karp then pursued further education by obtaining a law degree from Stanford Law School. To enhance his education, he chose to study philosophy in Germany under the tutelage of the famous philosopher Jürgen Habermas.

  • Alex Karp - Wikipedia

    Alexander Caedmon Karp (born October 2, 1967) is an American businessman and the co-founder and CEO of the software firm Palantir Technologies. He began his career investing in startups and stocks, and co-founded Palantir with Peter Thiel in 2003. In 2025, Time "Time (magazine)") magazine named him as one of the Time 100 of the world's most influential people. [...] Alexander Caedmon Karp was born in New York City, the eldest son of Robert Joseph Karp, a Jewish clinical pediatrician, and Leah Jaynes Karp, an African American artist. He grew up with his younger brother, Oliver "Ben" Karp, in Philadelphia. Like his father, he attended Central High School "Central High School (Philadelphia)") in Philadelphia graduating in 1985. He said he struggled with dyslexia from an early age. Alexander Karp was influenced by his parents activism for civil rights and [...] | Alex Karp | | --- | | Karp attending the AI Safety Summit in London, November 2023 | | | Born | Alexander Caedmon Karp (1967-10-02) October 2, 1967 (age 57) New York City, U.S. | | Education | Haverford College (BA) Stanford University (JD) Goethe University (PhD) | | Occupation | Businessman | | Title | Co-founder and CEO, Palantir Technologies | | Signature | | | | |

  • Who is the CEO of Palantir? Alex Karp's Bio - Clay

    Alex Karp is the co-founder and CEO of Palantir Technologies, a data mining firm that works with government agencies such as the Department of Defense and the FBI. Under Karp's leadership, Palantir has grown into a billion-dollar company and went public on the New York Stock Exchange in September 2020. Alexander Caedmon Karp palantir.com Use Clay to find other emails akarp@palantir.com Status Verified Use Clay's email finder to get anyone's work email in seconds. [...] ## Who is the CEO of Palantir? Alex Karp, born in New York City in 1967, is a billionaire businessman with a diverse educational background, including a bachelor's degree from Haverford College, a JD from Stanford University, and a PhD in neoclassical social theory from Goethe University Frankfurt. Before co-founding Palantir Technologies with Peter Thiel in 2004, Karp had a successful career in investing and money management, founding the London-based Caedmon Group. [...] Alex Karp's educational background is extensive and diverse, reflecting his deep interest in philosophy and law. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Haverford College, a liberal arts college in Pennsylvania, which provided him with a strong foundation in critical thinking and ethical reasoning. Karp continued his studies at Stanford University, where he received a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, further developing his analytical skills and understanding of the legal aspects of business

  • The Rise of Alex Karp, Palantir's Outspoken CEO - Business Insider

    Alex Karp pursued a Ph.D. and invested on behalf of wealthy European clients before founding Palantir. The secretive and controversial big-data company went public in 2020 and just posted its first $1 billion quarter. Karp is an outspoken CEO who hasn't held back in defending the company against criticism. Alex Karp, longtime CEO of data mining company Palantir, has been taking a victory lap following a slew of blowout earnings and a climbing stock price in recent quarters. [...] He and the company have courted controversy over the years, and he's known to be outspoken in defending the company's work with government agencies and the military, saying at a talk last year that he's proud "the death and pain that is brought to our enemies is mostly, not exclusively, brought by Palantir." Here's how the 57-year-old Karp got his start, took the helm of the secretive startup, and built it into a multi-billion-dollar company. ## Alex Karp grew up in Philadelphia. [...] In its Q2 2025 earnings call, Palantir reported $1 billion in revenue for the first time. Following the blockbuster report, Palantir's stock, which is the best-performing in the S&P 500 this year, hit an all-time high. Karp, who has been CEO since 2004, is known as an unusual leader, even by Silicon Valley standards. He pursued a Ph.D. in philosophy before joining the startup and sometimes works from a barn.

  • Alex Karp Biography: The Strategic Mind Behind Palantir's Data ...

    Alex Karp's Biography, The Strategic Mind Behind Palantir's Data Power, is a thorough examination of one of the most intriguing figures in today's technology business. Alex Karp, Palantir Technologies' co-founder and CEO, has helped define the world of data intelligence, playing a critical role in revolutionizing how governments, businesses, and organizations address some of the most difficult challenges of our day. From national security to business strategy, Palantir's cutting-edge [...] In this biography, you'll discover how Karp rose from a typical academic background in philosophy and law to the helm of one of the most secretive and powerful internet corporations. This book chronicles his journey, from studying under renowned philosophers to collaborating with Peter Thiel to build Palantir. You'll see how Karp's concept for leveraging data to tackle real-world problems propelled Palantir to prominence in the technology industry. [...] Suppose you're interested in the economic world, the rise of big data, or the personal stories of trailblazers who think differently. In that case, this book will give you an inside look at how one man's vision transformed an industry. Ready to be inspired? Purchase your copy today and learn the incredible story of Alex Karp and Palantir Technologies. Product Details ISBN: 9798339575412 Publisher: Independently Published Publication Date: September 17th, 2024 Pages: 130

Alexander Caedmon Karp (born 2 October 1967) is an American billionaire businessman, and the co-founder and CEO of the software firm Palantir Technologies. As of April 2022, his estimated net worth is US$1.1 billion.

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