Jeffrey Epstein invested $40 million into Valar Ventures, a firm co-founded by Peter Thiel, between 2015 and 2016, with the sum now valued at nearly $170 million, according to a New York Times report.

Why it matters: This financial tie between Epstein, a convicted sex offender, and Thiel, a prominent tech billionaire, raises questions about the extent of Epstein’s influence within Silicon Valley and the tech elite’s past associations with him.

Driving the news: The New York Times revealed the investment details on Wednesday, based on confidential financial analysis from Epstein’s estate and a Valar Ventures statement, spotlighting a significant link prior to Epstein’s 2019 death.

• The investment was made into Valar Ventures, a venture capital firm named after a Tolkien mythos creature, co-founded by Thiel.
• Epstein’s estate continues to benefit from the now-$170 million valuation, per the report.
• This period coincided with Epstein’s efforts to rehabilitate his image post-2008 conviction for procuring a child for prostitution.

Catch up quick: Epstein, known for his wide network of powerful contacts, invested in tech and science projects during his image-rehabilitation phase. Other tech figures like Larry Page, Sergei Brin, Reid Hoffman, and Bill Gates have faced scrutiny over Epstein ties, with Elon Musk subpoenaed in 2023 in a related case.

The intrigue: Thiel, who has often discussed Epstein in abstract cultural terms, now faces scrutiny for a direct financial connection, previously hinted at in a 2023 Rolling Stone report.

Between the lines: Epstein’s investment strategy may have aimed to leverage his wealth to gain favor among tech leaders, a tactic that contrasts with Thiel’s public stance distancing himself from Epstein’s actions.

What they’re saying:

• The New York Times reported that Epstein’s $40 million investment into Valar Ventures, now worth nearly $170 million, underscores a lucrative tie to Thiel’s firm.

The bottom line: This revelation deepens the narrative of Epstein’s reach into tech circles, prompting renewed calls for transparency about his dealings with influential figures like Thiel, whose responses remain pending.