A former New Hampshire hermit has been given $180,000 by a billionaire CEO of a software company to rebuild his cabin in a new area.
Alexander Karp, Palantir Technologies CEO, presented David Lidstone with a personal check on Monday, Jodie Gedeon, Lidstone’s friend, said on Facebook. A spokesperson for the data analytics software company confirmed the donation to the Concord Monitor.
“How do I express my gratitude and express my appreciation for something like this? It makes me cry every time I think about it,” Lidstone shared with the Monitor. It’s extremely difficult for me, a logger like myself, to understand why anyone would give me that amount of money.
Since Lidstone was arrested July 15, he has received a flood of support. He is accused of squatting on Vermont property for almost 30 years. His cabin burned down this month shortly before his release, but he recently secured temporary housing through the winter.
Gedeon stated that the location will be kept secret in order to protect Lidstone’s privacy. On Saturday, Lidstone will be available for supporters at a “thank-you” event in Warner (New Hampshire).
Lidstone, for his part, said he doesn’t think he can go back to being a hermit. He told The Associated Press that he might have been trying to avoid the things he really needs in his life.
