A growing number of Republican-aligned tech investors and entrepreneurs are embarking on ambitious projects to build massive statues and monuments across the United States, with plans ranging from a 450-foot Prometheus statue on Alcatraz Island to a 650-foot George Washington monument. These Silicon Valley figures are positioning themselves as modern-day monument builders, seeking to create lasting symbols that they believe represent American values and technological progress.
The most ambitious project comes from Bitcoin mining enthusiast Ross Calvin, who has proposed constructing a 450-foot-tall statue of the Greek god Prometheus on Alcatraz Island. The statue would stand 30 stories high and dwarf the 305-foot Statue of Liberty, making it visible from across the entire San Francisco Bay Area. Calvin's plan involves lobbying the Trump administration to reclassify Alcatraz from a national park to a national monument, which would allow for the construction. The statue would be made of nickel-bronze alloy and accompanied by a technology museum, with an estimated cost of $450 million.
Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, a close associate of Peter Thiel, has already begun commissioning sculptures that reflect classical aesthetics. Describing himself as a "classical aestheticist," Lonsdale has commissioned regular-sized sculptures of the Three Graces, Greek goddesses from classical mythology, and a neoclassical bust of journalist Bari Weiss that is displayed at the University of Austin, which he co-founded. Lonsdale is also a financial backer of the National Monuments Foundation, an organization run by Rodney Mims Cook Jr., who previously served as Trump's appointee to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts.
Angel investor Elad Gil has launched his own initiative called "Monumental," which he promoted during an appearance on the podcast "My First Million" about a year ago. Gil positions himself as the financial backer looking to fund someone who can bring these monumental visions to life. His approach differs from others in that he wants to build statues that serve as "an ode to the future," claiming that constructing such monuments is something civilizations do when they reach their peak. Unlike his contemporaries who focus primarily on Western classical aesthetics, Gil draws inspiration from diverse sources including Aztec and Mayan temples, the Sphinx of Giza, and the Great Wall of China.
Mo Mahmood, founder of More Monuments, has perhaps the most ambitious size goals with his plan to build a 650-foot statue of George Washington. However, he's currently focusing on a more modest 50-foot version that is scheduled to be unveiled on July 4, 2026, to commemorate America's 250th anniversary. Mahmood has already demonstrated his monument-building capabilities with a completed 54-foot statue of an oil derrick, which currently stands as the largest monument in the Austin, Texas area.
These tech entrepreneurs may find a receptive audience in the White House, as former President Trump has already allocated $40 million for a National Garden of American Heroes, planned to feature more than 250 statues of iconic American figures. Trump also reportedly has plans to construct a triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., positioned across from the Lincoln Memorial on the opposite side of the Potomac River. Given Trump's well-documented appreciation for grand, eye-catching architectural projects, these Silicon Valley monument enthusiasts may find their ambitious plans align with the former president's own vision for American landmarks and symbols.
