Peter Thiel's fascination with J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" isn't just a personal quirk -- it's a strategic theme that runs through his business empire. 

From Palantir to Anduril and now Erebor, Thiel's ventures borrow their names from Middle-earth and reflect his ambition to shape the future of technology, security and finance.

Palantir Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) was Thiel's first Tolkien-inspired company, named after the mystical "seeing stones" that allowed their users to observe distant events. 

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Like its namesake, Palantir's data analytics platforms empower companies and governments to sift through massive datasets for intelligence, security and operational insights. 

Its deep ties to U.S. intelligence and law enforcement have made Palantir both a powerful tool and a lightning rod for debates about surveillance and privacy.

Anduril Industries, another Thiel-backed venture, pushes the boundaries of battlefield automation and AI-driven defense. While not directly founded by Thiel, Anduril is heavily funded by his Founders Fund and staffed by alumni from Palantir, ensuring its strategic alignment with Thiel's ambitions for military technology. 

Anduril's advanced surveillance and defense platforms, such as the Lattice system, further entwine Thiel's influence with the highest levels of military and national security infrastructure.

Thiel's latest venture Erebor is a digital-first bank named after the legendary dwarven fortress in "The Lord of the Rings." Erebor is designed to serve startups, defense contractors and crypto companies, with a focus on AI and digital assets, to fill the void left in the wake of Silicon Valley Bank's collapse.  

Backed by Thiel, Palmer Luckey (founder of Anduril) and Joe Lonsdale (co-founder of Palantir), Erebor aims to be a new stronghold for innovation and capital.

Thiel's Tolkien-inspired branding is more than a nod to fantasy; it could be considered a declaration of intent. Through Palantir, Anduril and Erebor, Thiel has built his own rings of power -- reshaping the world of technology, finance and national security and raising important questions about who wields influence in modern society.

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