Peter Thiel invests $76M for 1% stake in Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale via Vista ADS

Published Aug 18, 10:00 PM UTC

Billionaire investor and Palantir chairman Peter Thiel acquired a 1% stake in Vista, a major operator in Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale formation, through $76 million in American depositary shares. The investment, disclosed in a security filing, followed a meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei, where they discussed economic policies and opposition to wealth taxes. The Vaca Muerta, the world's second-largest shale deposit, is experiencing a production boom: crude oil output hit a record 887,227 barrels per day in May 2026, up 19% year-on-year, while natural gas production rose 11%. Argentina has overtaken Colombia as Latin America's fourth-largest oil producer. Analysts expect output to reach 1-1.5 million bpd by 2030, driven by investments from YPF and Big Oil. The global energy crunch, exacerbated by the US-Israel-Iran conflict, has highlighted Vaca Muerta's potential. President Milei also eyes data center investments in Patagonia, leveraging flat land, cool climate, and abundant natural gas.