The early bonds between [billionaires Thiel and Musk] have persisted, and others in their orbit have gained power and influence. The so-called PayPal Mafia — a group of Silicon Valley stars with links to the payments app’s formative period — has become integral to the second Trump administration. The men — they’re all men — have overlapping business interests and have been outspoken about the importance of US tech dominance.
While links between industry and government have always existed, the current state of play is “unprecedented in the modern era,” said Quinn Slobodian, professor of international history at Boston University.
Musk has been very public in wielding his new power, demanding on X that federal workers justify their roles and turning up for press conferences at the White House.
Thiel, meanwhile, has remained off stage as his allies settle in. Here are the people from his world who are now working with the new administration.
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