They helped convict Bernie Madoff 2, analyzed roadside bomb patterns in Afganistan, and are rumored to have helped locate Osama bin Laden. They’ve worked with the FBI, CIA, Marine Corps, Air Force, and at least 8 other government organizations. With that sort of pedigree, you’d think Palantir was some sort of top-secret government program. It’s not. Complete with free meals and gym memberships, Palantir is actually one of the most successful privately-held startups in Silicon Valley. Started by a group of former PayPal people about a decade ago, Palantir is now worth $15 billion.