Alex Karp Biography: Wife, Age, Education, Net Worth, Parents, Children, Books, Ethnicity, Religion

Biography

Alex Karp (born Alexander Caedmon Karp, October 2, 1967) is a celebrated American billionaire businessman and the co-founder and CEO of Palantir Technologies, a leading data analytics and software company specializing in big data and AI solutions for government and commercial clients.

Born in New York City and raised in Philadelphia in a biracial family—his father a Jewish pediatrician and his mother an African-American artist—Karp overcame dyslexia and earned degrees in law from Stanford University and a PhD in neoclassical social theory from Goethe University in Frankfurt.

After a career in money management, he co-founded Palantir in 2003 (initially 2004 in some sources) with Peter Thiel and others, growing it into a major player in defense, intelligence, and enterprise software.

Known for his eccentric style, outspoken views on national security, and advocacy for Western technological dominance, Karp was named to the Time 100 most influential people list in 2025.

CEO of Palantir Technologies
Alex Karp
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Alexander Caedmon Karp
Stage Name:	Alex Karp
Born:	2 October 1967 (age 58 years old)
Place of Birth:	New York, New York, United States
Nationality:	American
Education:	Central High School, Haverford College, Stanford Law School, Goethe University Frankfurt
Height:	183 cm
Parents:	Robert Joseph Karp, Leah Jaynes Karp
Siblings:	Oliver “Ben” Karp
Spouse:	Not Married
Girlfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	N/A
Occupation:	Businessman • Entrepreneur
Net Worth:	$15 billion-$18 billion (USD)

Early Life & Education

Alex Karp was born on October 2, 1967, in New York City, though he was raised primarily in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a progressive, intellectually vibrant, and biracial household.

His father, Robert Joseph Karp, was a Jewish clinical pediatrician, and his mother, Leah Jaynes Karp, was an African-American artist. Karp has described his parents as somewhat “hippie-like,” actively involved in civil rights, labor rights, and social justice causes; he often accompanied them to protests and demonstrations as a child.

This environment instilled in him a strong sense of social awareness and an affinity for fighting discrimination, particularly from his maternal side. Karp is of mixed Jewish (paternal) and African-American (maternal) ethnicity.

He has spoken about feeling like an outsider at times due to his biracial background, but views himself simply as “me,” honored by acceptance from both communities. While his father was Jewish and Karp has described himself as Jewish in interviews (noting its influence on his worldview), he was not raised in a strictly religious household, and his personal religious practice appears secular or non-observant.

He has one younger brother, Oliver “Ben” Karp. From an early age, Karp struggled with dyslexia, which shaped his unconventional thinking style and reliance on abstract reasoning.

He graduated from Central High School in Philadelphia in 1985, then earned a bachelor’s degree from Haverford College in 1989, a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School in 1992, and a PhD in neoclassical social theory from Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany in 2002, where his dissertation, titled “Aggression in der Lebenswelt,” explored philosophical themes drawing on thinkers like Talcott Parsons.

Career

After earning his PhD in Germany in 2002, Alex Karp spent a short period as a research associate at the Sigmund Freud Institute in Frankfurt before shifting his focus to finance.

Using a small inheritance from his grandfather, he began investing in stocks and startups, generating early returns that attracted wealthy European clients.

Building on this momentum, he launched the Caedmon Group—named after his middle name—in London, where he managed funds for high-net-worth individuals and occasionally helped his former Stanford Law classmate Peter Thiel raise capital for Thiel’s hedge fund, Clarium Capital.

In 2003 (with formal operations beginning in 2004), Karp co-founded Palantir Technologies alongside Peter Thiel, Joe Lonsdale, Stephen Cohen, and Nathan Gettings. Serving as CEO from day one, he helped shape Palantir’s mission, which drew inspiration from PayPal’s fraud-detection systems and sought to build data-analysis tools capable of counterterrorism work while upholding civil liberties in the post-9/11 era.

Backed early by In-Q-Tel, the CIA’s venture capital arm, Palantir grew under Karp’s unconventional leadership style—known for his long hair, devotion to tai chi, and outspoken beliefs about protecting Western technological leadership.

Over the years, Palantir became a major force in government intelligence, defense programs, and enterprise software, supporting clients such as the U.S. Department of Defense, the FBI, and international partners engaged in conflict zones, including Ukraine.

Karp guided the company through its 2020 direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange. This milestone brought both acclaim and criticism due to Palantir’s work with surveillance, immigration enforcement, and national security agencies.

Karp has been among the highest-paid CEOs in corporate history, with annual compensation surpassing $1 billion in certain years. As of today, he continues to lead Palantir, steering its expansion into AI-driven defense systems and commercial enterprise solutions.

Personal Life

Alex Karp, born on October 2, 1967, is 58 years old.

He has never been married and has no publicly known spouse, partner, or children. Karp has often said in interviews that the idea of settling down or starting a family makes him “break out in hives,” reflecting his preference for an unconventional, highly independent lifestyle centered on work, philosophy, and personal wellness practices such as tai chi and cross-country skiing.

There are no verified reports of past relationships, marriages, or dating history, as Karp maintains strict privacy around his personal life and rarely discusses anything beyond his professional role and intellectual interests.

His height has not been officially documented, though he appears to be approximately 6 feet (around 183 cm) tall based on public photographs and events.

Net Worth

Alex Karp‘s net worth is estimated to fluctuate between $15 billion and $18 billion, with peaks exceeding $18 billion during the year, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaire rankings and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

The vast majority of his wealth derives from his founding stake in Palantir Technologies (PLTR), which has seen explosive stock growth driven by demand for its AI and data analytics platforms.

Palantir‘s share price rallied dramatically in 2025 amid strong revenue growth and major government/commercial contracts, propelling Karp into the top 200 wealthiest people globally at times. However, his fortune remains highly volatile with market movements.