Paul Allen's Silicon Valley estate just hit the market for $41.5 million. Take a look inside the late Microsoft cofounder's 7-bedroom mansion in America's richest town.

Advertisement
Paul Allen's Silicon Valley estate just hit the market for $41.5 million. Take a look inside the late Microsoft cofounder's 7-bedroom mansion in America's richest town.

paul allen property v2 2x1

Open Homes Photography; FS/MediaPunch/IPX; Ruobing Su/Business Insider

Atherton is the richest town in the US.

Advertisement

Following the October 2018 death of Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, the late tech billionaire's estate has put hundreds of millions worth of his assets up for sale.

First there was his 1989 MiG-29 fighter jet, then his $325 million superyacht, and then his $110 million plot of undeveloped land in Beverly Hills. Allen, who died at the age of 65, was worth more than $20 billion.

Now, Allen's estate is selling his former Silicon Valley home, a nearly 18,000-square-foot mansion set on 1.9 acres in Atherton, California, for $41.48 million.

"There's nothing else like this estate in Atherton," listing agent Courtney Charney of Parc Agency told Business Insider.

Advertisement

According to Charney, it's the most expensive home currently on the market in Atherton, which is the richest town in the US, with an average household income of $450,696 and high-profile residents including Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg and Google's Eric Schmidt.

Take a look at the late tech billionaire's estate, which comes with a swimming pool, a guest house, and two garages.

{{}}

Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen's former Silicon Valley home has hit the market for $41.48 million.

Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen's former Silicon Valley home has hit the market for $41.48 million.

As Neal J. Leitereg first reported for The Los Angeles Times, the property is being sold by a trust tied to the late tech billionaire, who died in October 2018 after a battle with cancer.

Allen paid $27 million for the newly-built property in 2013.

The nearly 18,000-square-foot mansion is in Atherton, an affluent California town of about 7,000 people. Among that population are several high-profile tech executives.

The nearly 18,000-square-foot mansion is in Atherton, an affluent California town of about 7,000 people. Among that population are several high-profile tech executives.

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and former Google CEO and chairman Eric Schmidt are both known to have owned homes in Atherton.

According to Zillow, the median home value in Atherton is almost $6 million.

Advertisement

Atherton is about four miles from Palo Alto — which is home to Stanford University and the headquarters of many tech companies, including Hewlett-Packard and previously Facebook — and roughly equidistant between San Francisco and San Jose.

Atherton is about four miles from Palo Alto — which is home to Stanford University and the headquarters of many tech companies, including Hewlett-Packard and previously Facebook — and roughly equidistant between San Francisco and San Jose.

"Silicon Valley is really the corridor from San Francisco down to San Jose, so this is equidistant for anyone looking to travel to a company along that corridor," Charney said.

Allen's seven-bedroom estate is the most expensive home currently listed in Atherton, according to listing agent Courtney Charney of Parc Agency.

Allen's seven-bedroom estate is the most expensive home currently listed in Atherton, according to listing agent Courtney Charney of Parc Agency.

"There's nothing else like this estate in Atherton," Charney told Business Insider.

She pointed to the lot size — 1.9 acres, which is large for Atherton, she says — and the home's amenities and built-in privacy features.

Advertisement

The home is built on what's called a "flag lot," which means the home sits at the end of a long driveway.

The home is built on what's called a "flag lot," which means the home sits at the end of a long driveway.

"It's set back from the street and it really offers the utmost in privacy," Charney said.

The interior of the three-level, 17,686-square-foot main home was designed with warm wood and neutral tones throughout.

The interior of the three-level, 17,686-square-foot main home was designed with warm wood and neutral tones throughout.

"It's a large home, but when you are in the home it has this incredible ability to envelop you and make it feel warm and inviting," Charney said.

Advertisement

The light-filled home, designed by Olson Kundig, features high ceilings and large windows.

The light-filled home, designed by Olson Kundig, features high ceilings and large windows.

The living room features a limestone fireplace and built-in shelving.

The living room features a limestone fireplace and built-in shelving.
Advertisement

The dining room, which includes an elevated limestone fireplace at eye-level, can seat at least 10 people.

The dining room, which includes an elevated limestone fireplace at eye-level, can seat at least 10 people.

In the kitchen, you'll find Carrera marble counter and white oak cabinetry, double ovens, two Miele dishwashers, and a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer.

In the kitchen, you'll find Carrera marble counter and white oak cabinetry, double ovens, two Miele dishwashers, and a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer.
Advertisement

There are two master bedroom suites: one on the main level of the home and one on the second floor.

There are two master bedroom suites: one on the main level of the home and one on the second floor.

Each suite comes with a marble bathroom with double vanities.

Each suite comes with a marble bathroom with double vanities.
Advertisement

The main floor master bathroom includes a marble soaking tub with views of the backyard ...

The main floor master bathroom includes a marble soaking tub with views of the backyard ...

... as well as an expansive walk-in closet.

... as well as an expansive walk-in closet.
Advertisement

The upstairs bathroom has its own soaking tub with garden views.

The upstairs bathroom has its own soaking tub with garden views.

An elevator serves all three levels of the home.

An elevator serves all three levels of the home.

The house's audio/video system, including the in-home cinema, is controlled by iPad tablets.

Advertisement

In addition to its five bedrooms, the Atherton home also has a home theater and snack bar, an exercise room and spa, and a wine cellar.

In addition to its five bedrooms, the Atherton home also has a home theater and snack bar, an exercise room and spa, and a wine cellar.

A detached guest house offers another two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Outside, the house boasts two outdoor kitchens, a pizza oven, an in-ground pool and spa, and multiple dining and seating areas.

Outside, the house boasts two outdoor kitchens, a pizza oven, an in-ground pool and spa, and multiple dining and seating areas.

"Enough cannot be said about the grounds," Charney said. "It feels like you've checked into an uber-exclusive resort. There's a wood-fired pizza oven, outdoor BBQ, two outdoor fireplaces, multiple seating and dining areas, a pool and hot tub ..."

Landscape architect Pamela Burton created "a wild meadow on the property that has walking paths," Charney added. "If you want to go and feel peaceful, you drive through the gates and it's like you take a deep breath, you clear your calendar, and you say I'm never leaving."

Advertisement
Next StoryMerrill Lynch is shifting how it handles staff who drop out of its financial adviser trainee program, and it highlights the industry's evolving career paths