# Joe Lonsdale Holdings Structured map of [[Joe Lonsdale]]'s firm, founded companies, and the Build-program portfolio that gives him an unusually **direct** financial interest in defense-contract outcomes. The people side is [[Joe Lonsdale First Degree Connections]]; the canonical [[Joe Lonsdale]] page carries the narrative. > Most positions are private; valuations are mark-to-round. Figures as last reported in the vault (see [[Joe Lonsdale News Log]]). ## The fund: 8VC [[8VC]] — founded by Lonsdale; **$6B+ AUM**. Distinctive **"Build" program** co-founds companies from scratch (25–30% of capital), which creates a more direct financial stake in contract outcomes than ordinary VC. Part of [[the Thiel network]]'s fund constellation alongside [[Founders Fund]] and [[Andreessen Horowitz]]. ## Founded companies | Company | Role | Domain | |---|---|---| | [[Palantir]] | Co-founder (2003); retained equity/advisory after leaving 2009 | Surveillance / data | | [[Addepar]] | Co-founder (2009) | Wealth-management software | | [[OpenGov]] | Co-founder (2012) | Government software | | [[Erebor]] | Co-founder (2025); [[8VC]] is the largest backer ($250M+) | Digital-first bank | ## 8VC Build-program defense portfolio | Company | Domain | |---|---| | [[Anduril]] | Autonomous weapons; $20B Army IDIQ | | [[Epirus]] | Counter-drone directed energy (co-founded 2018) | | [[Saronic Technologies]] | Autonomous maritime vessels | | Joby Aviation | Electric air taxis (military potential) | ## The conflict pattern Lonsdale holds no government role, but the Build model makes the conflict **sharper** than typical VC: 8VC literally co-founds the defense companies that then win government contracts, while Lonsdale funds the policy shop ([[Cicero Institute]]) that shapes the rules. See [[Defense Tech Conflicts of Interest]]. ## Wealth & jurisdiction Wealth is primarily [[Palantir]] equity + [[8VC]] carry. On the [[California Tech Exodus Ecosystem]] map, Lonsdale is the most *institutionally* organized mover: 8VC HQ + [[University of Austin]] + [[Cicero Institute]] relocated to **Austin** (2020), citing California's 13.3% top income tax. ## See Also - [[Joe Lonsdale]] — canonical biography - [[8VC]] · [[Erebor]] · [[Palantir]] · [[Anduril]] - [[Joe Lonsdale Political Donations]] · [[Joe Lonsdale First Degree Connections]] - [[Musk-Thiel Funding Map]] - [[Joe Lonsdale Dossier]]