Palantir CEO Alex Karp acquires 15,000 hectares of Swedish forest

Alex Karp, the CEO and founder of the AI defense firm Palantir, has acquired approximately 15,000 hectares of forest, mountain, and marshland in the Härjedalen region of Sweden. The land, located near the village of Storsjö Kapell, was purchased from the forestry company SCA for 240 million Swedish kronor (over 32 million euros).

The massive acquisition has caused unease among local residents and hunters, who learned of the change in ownership through notices regarding their hunting rights. Local community members have expressed concerns regarding the lack of transparency and the potential influence Karp may wield given his significant wealth and the nature of his company, which provides software to military and police agencies.

While the specific purpose of the land remains unclear, local theories range from the construction of a mountain bunker to food security preparations, noting Karp’s previous comments about preparing for “future wars.” Karp has reportedly acquired similar large tracts of land in Norway, Liechtenstein, and the United States.