Chamath Palihapitiya

Chamath Palihapitiya
Born	3 9, 1976
Birthplace	Galle, Sri Lanka
Nationality	Canadian-American
Occupation	Venture capitalist, entrepreneur
Known for	Founder and CEO of Social Capital, former Facebook executive, SPAC investments, co-host of All-In podcast
Education	University of Waterloo (BASc)

Chamath Palihapitiya (born 3 September 1976) is a Canadian-American venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and technology investor who founded and leads Social Capital, a venture capital firm he launched in 2011 after departing Facebook, where he had served as a senior executive overseeing the platform's user growth division. Born in Galle, Sri Lanka, Palihapitiya immigrated to Canada as a child and later studied electrical engineering at the University of Waterloo. His career trajectory — from immigrant beginnings to one of Silicon Valley's most prominent and outspoken investors — has made him a recurring figure in discussions about the technology industry, venture capital, and the societal impact of social media. Through Social Capital, Palihapitiya has invested in technology and healthcare companies, and he became one of the most visible proponents of special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) deals in the early 2020s, earning him the informal title "SPAC King" in financial media. He is also known as a co-host of All-In, a weekly business and technology podcast launched in 2021 alongside Jason Calacanis, David Sacks, and David Friedberg, which covers startup investing, technology policy, and current affairs. Additionally, Palihapitiya held a minority ownership stake in the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association.

Early Life

Chamath Palihapitiya was born on 3 September 1976 in Galle, a coastal city in Sri Lanka. His family emigrated from Sri Lanka when he was a child, eventually settling in Canada. The move was part of a wave of Sri Lankan emigration during a period of civil conflict on the island.

Growing up in Canada, Palihapitiya's family faced significant financial hardship. His early years were marked by the challenges common to immigrant families adjusting to a new country, including economic instability. In interviews, Palihapitiya has discussed how these formative experiences — navigating poverty and the immigrant experience — shaped his worldview and his later approach to business and investing.

Palihapitiya attended Lisgar Collegiate Institute, a secondary school in Ottawa, Ontario, which counts him among its notable graduates. The school, one of the oldest in Canada, has produced alumni in various fields of public life. Palihapitiya's time in Ottawa provided the foundation for his subsequent academic career at the University of Waterloo.

His background as a Sri Lankan immigrant who experienced poverty in Canada and went on to become a billionaire investor in Silicon Valley has been a recurring theme in media profiles and his own public commentary. Palihapitiya has frequently referenced his upbringing as an influence on his investment philosophy, particularly his stated interest in companies that address systemic problems in healthcare, education, and financial services.

Education

Palihapitiya enrolled at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, where he studied electrical engineering. He graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) degree. The University of Waterloo is known for its cooperative education programs, which integrate academic study with work placements in industry, particularly in technology and engineering fields. The university has produced numerous graduates who have gone on to prominent careers in the technology sector, particularly in Silicon Valley.

Palihapitiya's engineering background provided technical grounding that informed his subsequent career in the technology industry, first in operational roles and later as an investor focused on technology-driven companies. His training in electrical engineering gave him a framework for evaluating the technical merits of the companies and products he would later assess as a venture capitalist.

Career

Early Career

Before joining Facebook, Palihapitiya worked in the technology sector in various capacities. His early career included positions that allowed him to develop expertise in technology operations and business development. These experiences preceded his move to one of the most consequential roles in early social media.

Facebook (2007–2011)

Palihapitiya joined Facebook in 2007, where he took on a senior executive role overseeing the company's user growth efforts. During his tenure, he served as Vice President of User Growth, a position in which he was responsible for strategies to expand Facebook's user base during a critical period of the platform's development. Facebook grew from approximately 50 million users to over 700 million users during the period of Palihapitiya's involvement, though the growth was the result of multiple teams and strategies across the company.

Palihapitiya's work at Facebook during this growth phase gave him significant visibility in the technology industry and the financial resources — through stock options and equity — to launch his own investment firm. He departed Facebook in 2011 to pursue venture capital.

In December 2017, Palihapitiya made headlines when he publicly criticized the social media platforms he had helped build. In remarks at a Stanford Graduate School of Business event, he expressed regret about his role in creating tools that he said were "ripping apart the social fabric of how society works." He cited the short-term, dopamine-driven feedback loops created by social media platforms and their effects on civil discourse and social cohesion. The comments generated extensive media coverage and public discussion.

Following the widespread attention to his remarks, Palihapitiya subsequently provided additional context to his criticisms, clarifying certain aspects of his statements while maintaining his broader concerns about the societal impact of social media. His willingness to publicly critique the company where he had achieved much of his professional success drew both praise and skepticism from commentators in the technology and media industries.

Social Capital

In June 2011, Palihapitiya departed Facebook and announced the formation of The Social+Capital Partnership, later renamed Social Capital, a venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, California. The firm was established with the stated mission of investing in technology companies that addressed major societal challenges, including healthcare, education, and financial services.

Early Investments and Fund Growth

Social Capital's early investments included a range of technology startups. In November 2011, the firm participated in a funding round for SecondMarket, a marketplace for private company stock, which raised $15 million at a $200 million valuation. This was among the first publicly reported investments by Palihapitiya after leaving Facebook.

In March 2013, Social Capital Partnership confirmed the closing of a new fund, further establishing the firm's presence in the venture capital landscape. The fund was positioned to continue the firm's dual mandate of generating financial returns while investing in companies that could have a positive societal impact.

The firm's portfolio grew to encompass investments across multiple sectors. Social Capital invested in technology and healthcare companies, with Palihapitiya often emphasizing the firm's focus on areas where technology could address systemic inefficiencies. By 2015, Fortune magazine published a profile asking whether Palihapitiya represented "the future of venture capital," noting his unconventional approach compared to traditional Silicon Valley venture firms. The firm also participated in investments in enterprise technology, including in the area of digital tools and applications.

SPAC Deals

Palihapitiya became one of the most prominent figures in the special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) market in the late 2010s and early 2020s. SPACs are shell companies that raise money through initial public offerings with the purpose of acquiring or merging with private companies, providing those companies with an alternative route to becoming publicly traded.

One of his most notable SPAC deals involved Virgin Galactic, the space tourism company founded by Richard Branson. In 2019, Palihapitiya's SPAC, Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings, completed a deal valued at approximately $720 million to take Virgin Galactic public. The transaction was completed during a period of relative lull in the traditional IPO market, drawing significant attention to the SPAC model as an alternative to conventional public offerings.

The Virgin Galactic SPAC deal helped establish Palihapitiya as a central figure in the SPAC boom that followed, with financial media frequently referring to him as the "SPAC King." He subsequently sponsored additional SPACs, using the vehicle to take other companies public in sectors including healthcare and technology.

The SPAC market experienced a significant contraction beginning in 2022, as regulatory scrutiny increased and investor enthusiasm waned following underperformance by several high-profile SPAC mergers. Despite this cooling, Palihapitiya returned to the SPAC market in 2025, with Axios reporting that he had launched new SPAC efforts, noting his "crown dented but confidence unbowed."

Investment in Groq and Nvidia Acquisition

One of Palihapitiya's notable investments was in Groq, a semiconductor company focused on artificial intelligence chip architecture. In late 2025 and early 2026, Nvidia announced a deal to acquire Groq for approximately $20.6 billion, positioning Palihapitiya for a substantial financial return on his investment.

Despite the financial upside of the deal, Palihapitiya publicly stated that he "felt incredibly down" after the Nvidia-Groq transaction, a remark that drew attention from financial media and investors. The comment reflected Palihapitiya's stated preference for holding long-term positions in companies he believes have transformative potential, rather than cashing out through acquisition.

AI Investment Thesis

In early 2026, Palihapitiya outlined his views on artificial intelligence investment, stating that the best AI investment for the year was not a traditional stock. His commentary, widely covered in financial media outlets including Yahoo Finance and The Motley Fool, reflected his continued focus on the AI sector and his willingness to advocate for investment approaches outside of conventional public equity markets.

All-In Podcast

In 2021, Palihapitiya became a co-host of All-In, a weekly podcast focused on business, technology, startup investing, and public policy. The show is co-hosted by Jason Calacanis, David Sacks, and David Friedberg. The four hosts, who refer to themselves as the "besties," discuss a range of topics from venture capital trends and corporate earnings to geopolitics and government policy.

The podcast has developed a significant audience in the technology and finance communities, with episodes frequently generating headlines based on the hosts' commentary on current events. Palihapitiya's role on the show has further raised his public profile beyond the venture capital community, making him a recognizable figure in broader business media.

Golden State Warriors

Palihapitiya held a minority ownership stake in the Golden State Warriors, the professional basketball team based in San Francisco. His involvement with the team coincided with one of the most successful eras in the franchise's history, during which the Warriors won multiple NBA Championships. The ownership stake reflected Palihapitiya's broader interest in sports as an investment and cultural platform.

Personal Life

Palihapitiya maintains a public profile through his podcast appearances, social media commentary, and media interviews. He has discussed aspects of his personal history, including his immigrant background and childhood financial hardship, in various public forums and interviews.

His political affiliations have shifted over time. Palihapitiya was previously known as a donor to the Democratic Party, but in more recent years he has moved toward alignment with Republican and MAGA-affiliated politics. In 2025, he attributed this shift in part to what he described as being "red-pilled" by coverage from major US newsrooms, which he characterized as anti-Republican.

Palihapitiya has also been vocal on fiscal and tax policy. In early 2026, he criticized a proposed California billionaire tax, arguing that the measure was already driving ultra-wealthy residents out of the state and warning that it would deepen the state's budget deficit.

Palihapitiya is a Canadian-American citizen, having been born in Sri Lanka and raised in Canada before building his career in the United States.

Recognition

Palihapitiya has received significant attention from business and technology media throughout his career. Fortune magazine profiled him in 2015, examining whether his approach at Social Capital represented a new direction for venture capital. The New York Times featured him in its "Corner Office" interview series in 2017, in which prominent business leaders discuss their management philosophies and career trajectories.

His 2017 comments criticizing Facebook and social media platforms were covered by outlets including The Guardian, Business Insider, and numerous technology publications, generating extensive public discourse about the responsibilities of technology companies and their executives.

In the financial media, Palihapitiya has been consistently covered by Yahoo Finance, The Motley Fool, Reuters, Axios, and other major outlets, particularly in connection with his SPAC deals, investment thesis, and commentary on markets and public policy. His informal title as the "SPAC King" has been used extensively in financial reporting.

The All-In podcast, which he co-hosts, has become one of the most-followed business podcasts, further extending his influence and recognition in technology and investment circles.

Legacy

Palihapitiya's career spans several significant developments in the technology and finance industries. His role in Facebook's user growth during the company's expansion from a college-focused social network to a global platform with hundreds of millions of users placed him at the center of one of the defining corporate growth stories of the 21st century. His subsequent public criticisms of social media's societal impact added complexity to his legacy, positioning him as both a builder and critic of the social media economy.

Through Social Capital, Palihapitiya helped popularize the idea that venture capital could be directed toward companies addressing systemic problems in areas such as healthcare and education, rather than focusing solely on consumer technology and enterprise software. While the extent to which this approach has been implemented has been debated, it contributed to a broader conversation within the venture capital industry about the social responsibilities of investors.

His role in the SPAC boom of the late 2010s and early 2020s had a measurable impact on the financial markets. The Virgin Galactic deal and subsequent SPAC transactions demonstrated the viability of the SPAC model as an alternative path to public markets for high-growth companies, though the subsequent downturn in SPAC performance raised questions about the long-term value creation of such structures.

Palihapitiya's career also reflects broader patterns in Silicon Valley, including the increasing willingness of technology executives and investors to engage in public discourse on political and social issues. His shift from Democratic donor to MAGA-aligned commentator mirrors a trend among certain high-profile figures in the technology industry who have moved rightward in their political orientation.

His investments in artificial intelligence companies, including Groq, and his public commentary on AI investment strategy have positioned him as a participant in what many observers consider the next major phase of the technology industry.