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The DeSantis-Lonsdale ’24 Beauty Pageant

Joe Lonsdale, the outspoken Palantir co-founder and V.C., is rolling out the green carpet for Ron DeSantis at a splashy event next month. Will the rest of the Silicon Valley G.O.P. billionaires follow suit?

Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale hasn’t formally committed to raising money for Ron DeSantis’s putative presidential run, but a forthcoming event likely signals his intentions.
Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale hasn’t formally committed to raising money for Ron DeSantis’s putative presidential run, but a forthcoming event likely signals his intentions. Photo: Brian Ach/Getty Images for TechCrunch
Theodore Schleifer
March 28, 2023

The Republican shadow primary is now in full swing among Silicon Valley megadonors. I have recently learned that Joe Lonsdale, the outspoken investor and Palantir co-founder, is preparing to introduce Ron DeSantis to his network next month in Austin, his adopted hometown. About 200 of Lonsdale’s business and political contacts are expected to attend, including some who are flying in specifically for the event and the chance to meet the Florida governor.