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    Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt Is Selling His Silicon Valley Estate for $24.5 Million

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    For several years now, Eric Schmidt’s ever-growing real estate portfolio has been the talk of several towns—he’s spent hundreds of millions buying up prime properties in locales like Miami, Beverly Hills, New York City and Washington, D.C., just for starters. But now he’s decided to let at least one of his myriad homes go, having put his longtime Northern California compound up for sale.

    The asking price is $24.5 million, or roughly 12 times more than the former CEO and chairman of Google doled out for the property a little more than three decades ago, back in 1990. The listing is held by Katharine Carroll of Compass.

    Completed in the late 1960s, but extensively remodeled during Schmidt’s tenure, the 3.3-acre spread in the affluent Silicon Valley enclave of Atherton includes a main European-inspired mansion and newer guesthouse designed by Schwanke Architecture—for a total of five bedrooms and eight bathrooms in a little more than 5,200 square feet.

    A fireside sunroom opens to the grounds.

    Peter Lyons

    Fronting the residence are two gated driveways that empty out at a trio of motorcourts, including one resting adjacent to a detached three-car garage boasting a lower-level recreation room. Once inside, an entry foyer displaying herringbone-style hardwood floors and a curving iron-railed staircase flows on one side to a living room highlighted by a fireplace and doors spilling out to a terrace, formal dining room, and kitchen outfitted with custom marble countertops, Waterworks fixtures, dual sinks and dishwashers, and a Thermador range. An accompanying breakfast nook lined with a bay window opens to a patio sporting a water feature.

    A sky-lit hallway on the opposite side of the foyer leads to a fireside sitting room, handsome wood-paneled office/study with a full bath and wet bar-equipped family room that connects via a fireplace to a sunroom; and upstairs, an inviting primary bedroom comes complete with access to an expansive private terrace, a dressing room, and luxe bath spotlighted by a soaking tub and marble shower.

    On the grounds is a conservatory-style greenhouse imported from the U.K.

    Peter Lyons

    Especially standing out are the picturesque grounds, which are laced with mature plants and specimen trees, and host a swimming pool and spa, as well as numerous spots ideal for al fresco lounging and entertaining. Rounding it all out: a separate building for the security team, along with a charming Amdega Conservatory imported from the United Kingdom that now serves as a greenhouse.

    Besides his Atherton property, Schmidt—whose net worth is currently estimated at $24 billion—also lays claim to a $65 million parcel of undeveloped land in the mountains high above Beverly Hills that was last owned by deceased tech billionaire Paul Allen. He also possesses a historic $15 million mansion in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C., where Jackie Kennedy once resided, not to mention $114 million worth of island homes in Miami Beach.

    Click here for more photos of Eric Schmidt’s Atherton estate.

    Peter Lyons More

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      Billionaire Marc Andreessen’s Longtime Silicon Valley Estate Just Popped Up for Sale at $33 Million

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      Marc Andreessen currently lays claim to more than $255 million worth of properties in Malibu, including a 13-structure Paradise Cove compound and an adjacent $34 million property, plus another $44.5 million home on nearby Escondido Beach. So, now that he spends a significant amount of time in the seaside SoCal city, it’s not entirely surprising that the tech/crypto/venture-capitalist billionaire has decided to hoist his longtime Northern California residence onto the market.

      The asking price is a tad over $33 million, or roughly double what the co-founder of Netscape and venture-capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and his wife Laura Arillaga—the only daughter of late Silicon Valley philanthropist and multibillionaire John Arrillaga—forked over for the place a little more than 17 years ago, back in early 2007.

      Completed in the mid-1990s by custom builder Colin Whiteside, but extensively renovated over four years during the couple’s tenure, the gated 1.5-acre spread in the affluent Silicon Valley enclave of Atherton includes a main Tuscan-style mansion, plus a guesthouse and separate office/studio—for a total of five bedrooms and seven baths in a little more than 12,400 square feet.

      The stucco and terracotta-roof structure is showcased by balconies and a terrace lined with carved balustrades.

      Bernard André

      A circular driveway fronts the primary residence, which is distinguished by an expansive terrace lined with carved balustrades and topped by balconies. Once inside, a foyer displaying herringbone-style cherry floors and a sweeping staircase greets and flows to three-story living space highlighted by an elevator to all levels, seven fireplaces, and high-tech home-automation, security and surveillance systems.

      In addition to a living area boasting soundproof suede walls, automated window shades, a concealed projector and retractable cinema screen, other highlights include a formal dining room served by two kitchens outfitted with a suite of top-tier Bosch, Hestan, Kitchen-Aid, Miele, Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, as well as a family room that opens to a covered terrace sporting a built-in barbecue, den with an adjoining office, recreation/media room, mirrored gym, and an upstairs lounge that connects to a sumptuous primary bedroom decked out with a private balcony, dual walk-in closets, and a luxe marble-clad bath spotlighted by a spa tub and curbless shower.

      A hallmark of the residence is a commitment to media needs, complete with both visible and concealed screens in nearly every room.

      Bernard André

      Outdoors, the manicured grounds are laced with a mix of natural and synthetic grass lawns. specimen trees, gardens and fountains, and host an arbor-covered media lounge. As previously mentioned, the premises also contain a one-bedroom, one-bath guesthouse with its own kitchen and living area, and an office/studio with a kitchenette and full bath. There’s also a three-car garage with a fourth bay that’s been converted into an office and catering space.

      Besides his Malibu and Atherton properties, Andreessen—whose net worth is currently estimated at $1.9 billion—also reportedly owns a $36 million vacant lot just outside Las Vegas.

      Click here for more photos of Marc Andreessen’s Silicon Valley estate.

      Bernard André More