Masked Protesters Storm Oil and Gas Tycoon's Mansion in Argentina

Demonstrators in Argentina gathered in front of the luxury home of technology investor Peter Thiel in Buenos Aires on Saturday local time.

They were protesting against the billionaire’s growing involvement in the country’s oil, gas, and shale oil sectors.

In August 2026, Thiel Macro, a hedge fund owned by the German-American entrepreneur, disclosed its first formal investment in Argentina. It acquired a stake of nearly 1% in Vista Energy.

Vista Energy is an energy company engaged in the exploration and production of oil, gas, and shale oil, with more than 1,100 development sites in the Vaca Muerta region of Argentina.

The protesters linked Thiel’s presence in the country to a number of initiatives and draft laws supported by the government of President Javier Milei, which have faced widespread public opposition.

One of these is the crucial Glacier Law, which relaxes restrictions on certain industrial and mining activities in mountainous areas.

This was not the first demonstration. A similar protest was held in early August against a government bill aimed at removing limits on foreign ownership of rural land in Argentina.

In addition, another draft law known as ‘Super RIGI’ — an initiative to attract investments worth more than US$1 billion — was also created by the government to bring capital into the emerging high-technology industry. It has been approved by the lower house and is now awaiting debate in the Senate. This has also sparked mass protests.