[coryl]

1) That's a terrible source for data.

2) Being worth $1m is still terrible for having done everything he did.

[jmngomes]

If we only pursued endeavors that produce money, our civilization's development would be centuries behind and our life would be (more) miserable. Fortunately, not everyone is motivated (just) by money and power.

[jeffreyrogers]

Worth noting that $1mm in the 40s and 50s is much more in 2014 dollars.

[coryl]

True, I looked up the adjusted amount and it's $16m.

But it semantics, as Thiel's point was to contrast the value he created with the value he captured.

[omegant]

There is a contrast only if you consider that the only way to capture value is through money.

Also you may think that "Capture value" is not a priority for everybody (Not only money, but also public attention, or power).

In fact capturing value as a priority may absorb too much of your time to be useful.

EDIT: corrected a word