Peter Thiel was going around with an open checkbook, actively looking for anyone who may have a viable case against Gawker. If it hadn't been Hulk Hogan's sex tape case, it would have been unlawful termination, or some other grievance that involved Gawker Media in some way.

Edit: lol, no wonder parent & gp were circumspect on names - I'm getting downvoted :'-D Anyhow, here are my sources:

https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/02/hogan-t...

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/05/the-b...