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    Why America’s Billionaire Class Is Snapping Up Prime D.C. Real Estate

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    Historically, Washington, D.C., has been where politcos go to make policy. Today, it’s also where the ultra-wealthy go to hobnob with Capitol Hill decision-makers and West Wing movers and shakers. In recent years, a trend has taken shape in the nation’s capital, where everyone from tech billionaires and hedge fund titans to crypto crusaders and cabinet picks is descending on D.C., not just for influence, but for real estate. The result? An unprecedented boom in the District’s ultra-high-end housing market, with multimillion-dollar properties trading hands at a pace and price point that might even raise brows in famously high-cost locales like Beverly Hills and Palm Beach. 

    Mark Zuckerberg is the latest of the world’s wealthiest to secure a residential foothold in the capital, according to Politco. The Meta CEO, who also maintains homes in Hawaii and California’s Bay Area, was recently revealed as the buyer behind a $23 million all-cash purchase in the leafy Massachusetts Avenue Heights neighborhood. The 15,400-square-foot architectural stunner—designed by noted D.C. architect Robert M. Gurney—features five bedrooms, seven-and-a-half baths, two kitchens, and a pool complex fortified by security walls. Located just a quick drive from the White House (or a brisk stroll from Vice President J.D. Vance’s residence at the Naval Observatory), it’s a strategic buy in more ways than one. 

    Mark Zuckerberg dropped $23 million in cash for his new home in D.C. in March 2025.

    Anice Hoachlander

    A Meta spokesperson told The New York Post the acquisition will allow Zuckerberg to “spend more time [in D.C.] as Meta continues the work on policy issues related to American technology leadership.” 

    Zuckerberg joins a growing cohort of ultra-wealthy tech titans and Trump-aligned business leaders reshaping Washington’s high-end housing market. Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos kicked off the trend back in 2016, scooping up the former Textile Museum in Kalorama for $23 million. The 27,000-square-foot behemoth—once two side-by-side mansions—set the tone for what was to come: a rush of high-net-worth individuals turning D.C.’s historically discreet neighborhoods into billionaire enclaves. It has been widely reported he later shelled out another $5 million for a house directly across the street.

    In 2016, Jeff Bezos purchased D.C.’s former Textile Museum in Kalorama for $23 million.

    PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images

    Then came Peter Thiel. The PayPal co-founder scooped up a $13 million estate on Woodland Drive in 2021, Washingtonian reported. The seller? Former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt followed suit, snapping up a storied N Street residence for $15 million. The home was once graced by none other than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

    But the tech elite aren’t the only ones moving in. Washington’s new crop of political appointees is bringing their deep pockets and taste for trophy homes. Howard Lutnick, the billionaire CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and President Trump’s pick for commerce secretary, recently shattered local records with a $25 million purchase of Fox News anchor Bret Baier’s French chateau-style home in Foxhall. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent—worth over $700 million, per his financial disclosures—went house-hunting in Georgetown earlier this year. His target became a Federal-style home occupied by Connie Milstein, a former ambassador to Malta, that he acquired for $12.5 million, The Wall Street Journal reported.  

    Howard Lutnick bought Bret Baier’s former Foxhall home for a record $25 million.

    Studio Trejo

    Newcomers to Congress and business-world mainstays are planting roots in proximity to the nation’s great halls of power, too. David Sacks, the “White House AI and Crypto Czar,” picked up a $10.3 million home earlier this year, and nearby, former hedge-fund manager and now Senator David McCormick ponied up $10.5 million for the Georgetown residence of the late attorney C. Boyden Gray, a former ambassador to the European Union.

    As for the ripple effects? Hard to miss. Homes that used to sit on the market are now getting multiple offers. Take one Georgetown mansion, for example—originally listed at $13.95 million. The price did drop to $9.99 million, but it still ended up selling over asking in a bidding war, The WSJ reported. Bottom line: being close to Capitol Hill has never been more desirable—or more expensive. 

    Authors

    Abby Montanez

    Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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      The Owner of Mango’s Tropical Café Is Selling His Secluded Florida Sanctuary for $19 Million

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      David Wallack, the charismatic owner behind South Beach’s iconic Mango’s Tropical Café, has listed his verdant hideaway in the unincorporated area of Redland, about 28 miles (and potentially a two-plus-hour drive with traffic) southwest of South Beach, for $19 million. Represented by Lynna Weil and Darin Tansey of Douglas Elliman, the 14-acre compound dubbed Breezy Oaks offers a fusion of ecology and off-the-grid tranquility. 

      “Breezy Oaks is more than a retreat—it’s a private resort oasis,” says Wallack. “The moment you pass through the gates, you’re transported into a tropical paradise, where crystal-clear grottoes teem with tilapia, koi, and cichlids, and white sand beaches invite total relaxation. At night, the soothing sounds of cascading waterfalls create a truly transcendental sleep experience.” 

      The property has three grottos with coral artwork by the late stone landscaper Ben Bistrong.

      Immersive Media Solutions

      Tucked among a Florida pine preserve, at the heart of Breezy Oaks are three naturally filtered freshwater grottos fed by the Floridan aquifer, one of the largest groundwater systems in the U.S. The shimmering pools are ringed with coral installations by the late Miami-based artist and stone landscaper Benjamin Bistrong—his final opus before passing in 2014. Think: nature meets sculpture garden meets spa day. 

      Wander past the grottos, and you’ll encounter fruit-laden mango, lime, and lemon trees, plus a very industrious bee colony turning out fresh honey on-site. The existing 3,362-square-foot home—featuring three bedrooms and three baths—is more functional than fantasy. Let’s call it a humble ranch house or just a placeholder while you dream up your future estate.

      There’s a simple three-bedroom house on the secluded property.

      Immersive Media Solutions

      The property is currently zoned for residential and agricultural use, but there’s potential to have it rezoned for commercial purposes. The seller has another 29-acre parcel in nearby Homestead that is also available for another $3 million.

      In a region known for glittering high-rises and beachside mansions, South Florida is seeing a quiet but notable shift: a growing appetite for large land parcels. Though increasingly rare and often hard to come by, these expansive properties are drawing interest from buyers seeking space and privacy. Just ask Jeff Bezos, who recently scooped up multiple homes on Miami’s ultra-exclusive Indian Creek Island, with his total spend topping $234 million. Similarly, the sale of the $150 million Tarpon Island estate in Palm Beach highlights the premium placed on sizable, exclusive properties. This private island, featuring a nearly 24,000-square-foot mansion with extensive amenities, was acquired by Australian investor Michael Dorrell, marking a record for non-oceanfront deals in the area.  

      Click here to see more photos of the South Florida hideaway.

      Immersive Media Solutions

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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      in Luxury

      A $65 Million Miami Mansion With an Aquarium So Big a Scuba Diver Has to Clean It

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      Mr. Helberg is going to Washington. 

      Jacob Helberg, President Trump’s pick for undersecretary of state for growth, energy, and the environment, is putting his bayfront Florida home on the market for a cool $65 million. However, don’t expect to find it listed on the MLS just yet—Helberg is aiming for an off-market deal as he makes his move to Washington, D.C. 

      Helberg and his husband, venture capitalist Keith Rabois, purchased the Venetian Islands property in 2020 for around $29 million. Since then, they’ve poured about $15 million on customizations, including a jaw-dropping 5,600-gallon aquarium imported from Japan that cost the couple about $1 million, according to agent Julian Johnston of the Corcoran Group. The tank is so massive that it requires a scuba diver for maintenance, who enters through a hatch discreetly tucked away inside the closet of the primary bedroom.

      RELATED: This $33 Million Waterfront Mansion in Miami Beach Was Inspired by Paris’s Famed Left Bank

      The 5,600-gallon aquarium stands between two spacious lounge areas overlooking the pool.

      1 OAK Studios

      The design, originally built for Andre Radandt, former president of Bolthouse Farms, the waterfront home is a masterclass in modern elegance. Completed in 2019, the six-bedroom contemporary spread spans an impressive 15,000 square feet. One of the most striking elements is the entrance—a bridge over a reflecting pool leading to a two-story wall with intricate cutout designs by sculptor Erwin Hauer. Other notable features include an infinity-edge pool, an outdoor kitchen, a private dock with a 55,000-pound boat lift, and a rooftop deck with a hot tub for soaking in the dreamy water views.

      The open-plan kitchen and living area is also a showstopper, complete with a large island, casual dining space, and twin glass-enclosed wine cellars. The couple also added custom wood floors and calfskin wall panels, elevating the home’s sophisticated feel. 

      RELATED: Palm Beach’s Luxury Real Estate Market Is Thriving

      Floor-to-ceiling windows offer up panorampic views over Biscayne Bay.

      1 OAK Studios

      A senior adviser to Palantir Technologies CEO Alex Karp, Helberg has yet to be confirmed in his new role within the administration. Meanwhile, Rabois continues to make waves as a venture capitalist, with investments in companies like Stripe and DoorDash. The couple’s love story goes beyond real estate—they tied the knot in 2018 in a ceremony officiated by OpenAI’s Sam Altman on the island of St. Barthélemy.

      Helberg and Rabois recently acquired a seven-bedroom, circa-1912 home in D.C.’s Kalorama neighborhood near the French Embassy for approximately $7 million, according to property records. Kalorama has long been home to power couples like Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, as well as Barack and Michelle Obama. Billionaires like Jeff Bezos and former Trump officials such as David Sacks, Howard Lutnick, and Scott Bessent also reside nearby. 

      Click here to see more photos of the waterfront home on Venetian Island.

      1 OAK Studios

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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      in Luxury

      Jeff Bezos Just Dropped $90 Million on a Third Indian Creek Island Property

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      Jeff Bezos’s South Florida spending spree continues.

      The Amazon founder has splashed out a whopping $90 million in an off-market deal for a third waterfront estate on the coveted Indian Creek Island, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. According to the outlet, Bezos, who recently landed in third place on Forbes’s ranking of the world’s richest people, will live at the six-bedroom mansion while work is done on the two other properties he previously purchased.

      Tax records reveal that the Blue Origin founder’s new digs were last sold in 1998 for just $2.5 million, which goes to show how much home prices on the guard-gated Billionaire Bunker have skyrocketed. The Real Deal reported that the roughly two-acre spread was originally built in 1956 and later expanded upon in 1986 and once again in 2014. Altogether, the palatial pad features a swimming pool, a boat dock on Biscayne Bay, and 10,000 square feet of living space. 

      An aerial view of Jeff Bezos’s new home on Indian Creek Island, his third purchase on the guard-gated enclave.

      Google Earth

      Last November, the former CEO of Amazon announced in the most modern of ways—on his Instagram—that he was officially relocating from Seattle to Miami, noting that he wanted to be closer to his parents and his fiancée, Lauren Sanchez. “I’ve lived in Seattle longer than I’ve lived anywhere else and have so many amazing memories here,” he captioned the post. “As exciting as the move is, it’s an emotional decision for me. Seattle, you will always have a piece of my heart.”

      Several months earlier, in August 2023, Bezos dropped $68 million in a clandestine, off-market transaction for a three-bedroom, three-bath home on the man-made barrier island. At the time, he was reportedly eyeing the house next door too, and it was only a few months before he worked out another under-the-radar deal to acquire it for $79 million. The existing home, with seven bedrooms, spans more than 19,000 square feet.

      The estate includes a swimming pool, a pool house, a putting green, and a small dock.

      Google Earth

      Bezos now owns three of the roughly 40 homes on the 300-acre island, at a cost of nearly a quarter billion dollars—$237 million, to be exact.

      Other notable figures that reside on Indian Creek include Tom Brady, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, and investor Carl Icahn. The community, which is connected to the mainland via a short bridge, sports a private 18-hole golf course, and residents have access to the country club. 

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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      in Luxury

      Bill Gates Just Dropped $60 Million on a Castle in Northern Italy

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      Bill Gates is now the king of his very own castle.

      The Microsoft co-founder purchased the famous Castello di San Giorgio in Italy’s Liguria region for approximately $60 million, Il Secolo XIX first reported. According to the local newspaper, Gates bought the historic property through his Four Seasons real estate company, meaning there’s a chance that the tech billionaire turned hotelier could turn the building into a luxury resort.

      The fortress-like structure was used for military defense during the Roman Times because of its elevated position; however, it was later abandoned, The Daily Mail reported. After a British diplomat scooped the place up some decades later, it was converted into the luxury villa seen today. Also known as Portofino Castle, the ancient European spread measures 12,917 square feet, and it even sports an elevator that will bring you directly down to the beach.

      Bill Gates reportedly bought a castle in Northern Italy for $60 million

      Kevin Britland/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

      Portofino, which is perched on Italy’s northwest coast, has long been a popular hideaway for jet setters, entrepreneurs, and celebs. Fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana famously have villas there, while Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeff Bezos, and Jennifer Lopez have all visited the colorful fishing village, not to mention it’s where Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker got married at Villa Olivetta.

      This isn’t the first time that Gates has added an Italian property to his impressive $170 million real estate portfolio. In 2021, Gates’s private equity firm, Cascade Investment, bought a majority stake in the Four Seasons Hotel chain from Saudi Prince al-Waleed bin Talal in a $2.2 billion deal. Four Seasons was subsequently awarded a contract for a new resort in Rome, located within a 17th-century palazzo right by St. Peter’s Basilica and the Spanish Steps, which will become the city’s first six-star hotel. More