Mark Zuckerberg has become another billionaire who has spent tens of millions of dollars on luxury real estate in Donald Trump's "golden" capital, Politico reports.
For a month, residents of Washington’s prestigious Woodland Normanstone neighborhood have been wondering who paid $23 million in cash for a 1,400-square-foot estate. It was the third-most expensive deal in the city’s history, and the entire transaction was shrouded in secrecy. The house was even blurred out on Google Maps.
On Monday, March 31, observers noticed activity at the previously dark estate, and on Wednesday, April 2, a Meta representative confirmed to the media that Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, had purchased a property in Washington, D.C. The company explained that this would allow him to spend more time in the capital working on U.S. technology policy issues.
But the purchase of a mansion in downtown Washington looks like more than just a convenient place to stay. Real estate experts say it signals a shift in business culture during Trump's second presidency. Big businessmen have been told that if they want to influence the administration, they must have a physical presence in Washington.
Zuckerberg is far from alone in this trend. Jeff Bezos purchased real estate for $23 million in 2016, Peter Thiel for $13 million in 2021. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt paid $15 million for a Georgetown home, and David Sachs, who now works in the White House, spent $10.3 million on a penthouse.
Realtors expect that there will be even more billionaires in the capital.