Billionaire investor and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel played a pivotal role in launching J.D. Vance's venture capital career in 2016. Thiel, known for his influential presence in Silicon Valley, brought Vance into Mithril Capital Management, a venture capital (VC) firm he founded. The opportunity came shortly after Vance gained national attention for his memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," which portrayed the struggles of the white working class in America's Rust Belt. The memoir's success positioned Vance as a prominent voice in political and social discourse, and Thiel's endorsement further elevated his profile.